What do participants participate in? Insights from the community of Peccioli

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research is part of a broader study investigating citizen participation in public decisions affecting the present and future of the community of Peccioli, a small village in Tuscany (Italy), through repeated surveys on a random sample of the citizens, and within participatory processes promoted by the local administration. The paper investigates how citizens who participate in one of these processes take part in political, associative and cultural life, and through which channels. The investigation is carried out in a small community, while the vast majority of studies on participation mechanisms so far have concentrated on large urban areas. This contribution presents the findings of a study carried out in 2022 through surveying a random sample of these Peccioli citizens (n = 144). Unlike studies of participatory processes reported in the literature, our study did not rely on the involvement of other public institutions or organized groups but considered ordinary citizens regardless of their potential affiliations. Our research found, firstly, that the respondents were strongly involved in political, social and cultural activities, to a higher extent than reported at national level. Secondly, as expected, their participation in socio-cultural activities was higher than in political activities. Thirdly, even in a small village like Peccioli, the vast majority of participants used a variety of media, particularly digital media, to stay informed and up to date on current affairs.