Food Democracy from the Top Down? State-Driven Participation Processes for Local Food System Transformations towards Sustainability

Jana Baldy,Sylvia Kruse

doi:10.17645/pag.v7i4.2089

Abstract

Food democracy is a concept with growing influence in food policy research. It involves citizens regaining democratic control of the food system and enabling its sustainable transformation. In focusing mainly on civil society initiatives, food democracy research has so far neglected the potential of state-driven food-related participation processes. We base our study on qualitative interviews with local stakeholders in two smaller cities in southern Germany where the city administration and city council initiated participatory processes. The study aims to understand how local actors are framing state-driven participation processes concerning sustainable local food system transformation along key dimensions of food democracy. We identify eight categories that conceptually constitute food democracy: mutual knowledge exchange; legitimacy and credibility of knowledge claims; transparent processes for deliberating ideas; shared language for sharing ideas; expectations of and experience with efficacy; role model function of municipalities; raising awareness; and motivation and justification of the normative orientation. Furthermore, the empirical analysis shows that state actors can have important roles in food-related participation processes as potential initiators, shapers and implementers depending on how they interact with local food-related actors and how they design and coordinate food system transformation processes. This suggests that food democracy research should not necessarily conceptualize state actors, local entrepreneurs and citizens as opponents, but rather, should reconsider how these various actors can drive food democracy and citizenship in a supportive and coordinated way.

Highlights

Food democracy is a concept with growing influence in food policy research (Booth & Coveney, 2015; Hassanein, 2003, 2008; Lang, 2005; Perrett & Jackson, 2015; Renting, Schermer, & Rossi, 2012)
As an outcome of our analysis, we conclude that these four dimensions can be substantiated by eight categories of food democracy derived from our analysis representing how interviewees are framing state-driven participation processes
Interviewees emphasize that mutual exchange of knowledge about local food systems is an important basis for true deliberation within the participation processes

Summary

Introduction

Food democracy is a concept with growing influence in food policy research (Booth & Coveney, 2015; Hassanein, 2003, 2008; Lang, 2005; Perrett & Jackson, 2015; Renting, Schermer, & Rossi, 2012). Following an identified shift in food policy from state control to growing power of large corporations over the food system, food democracy is part of a trend where “demands from below” Food policy needs to be developed through a triangular collaboration between state actors, economic actors and civil society Food democracy research has focused on civil society movements and the role of citizens (Hassanein, 2003; Johnston, Biro, & MacKendrick, 2009) while neglecting the two other parts of the triangle. Already in 1999, Lang (1999, p. 220) argued that “[a] rethinking of the state’s role in food is long overdue.” Almost ten years later, Mendes (2008, p. 947) underlined that “we are entering a new phase of local state involvement in food policy, governance and policy-making characterized by proactive partnerships, with cities playing the role of facilitator, educator, and promoter of efficiencies.”

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