Active Participation Of Citizens Research Articles

The Foundations, Resilience and Spirit of Democratic Institutions

In this modified lecture on the spirit of democracy and the importance of the constitution as a radical document, the author engages with the manner in which the struggle for independence resulted in the imagination of India as a sovereign, democratic and secular republic. Because this history is being systematically erased to create an alternate singular narrative of nationalism that is against the core constitutional values, there is a need to revisit the foundational values and emotions that gave rise to the democratic institutions and ensure that these processes are put to work through informed, organised and active citizen participation, keeping in view principles of equality and social justice. Active citizenship is indeed a powerful transformative force to expand and deepen democracy. The article details the reasons why the spirit of a democratic culture among citizens from the level of gram panchayats and municipalities to the district, state and national levels has the capacity to expose and resist the construction of Hindu nationalist hegemony, its falsity and authoritarianism.

Administrative Authority-driven Public Engagement: A Case Study of Local Government’s Commendation Governance in China

In recent years, China’s central government has focused strategically on motivating local governments to allocate more administrative resources to enhance performance in non-economic areas, such as environmental and cultural services. As a governance practice, the central government has initiated “evaluation and commendation” campaigns among local governments. The main governance objective of these local government campaigns is to solicit public engagement, including public participation, support, and actions. Based on a case study of the campaign to establish a National Civilised City, this paper presents the local government’s governance logic, operating mechanism, and governance performance in soliciting public engagement in “evaluation and commendation” activities. We find that in “evaluation and commendation” campaigns, characterised by short-term authority commendation incentives and shortage of governance resources, the local governments adopted the unusual governance mechanism of “administrative authority-driven public engagement”, using both flexible and mandatory strategies. The flexibility strategy leads to the active participation of citizens, but the mandatory strategy makes public engagement stay at the superficial level, characterised by surface-level cooperation and inner rejection, causing partial exclusion and separation between the government and the public, in turn exhibiting a “ratchet effect” in governance performance.

Research on Some Causes and Countermeasures of Education Equality in China

In the realm of education, social equality is embodied by the concept of education equality. This means that every individual, regardless of their socioeconomic background, should have equal access to education and educational resources. Equality in education is not only a fundamental human right but also a crucial factor in driving global education policies, including those of China. This paper aims to analyze the purpose and current situation of education in China by presenting a plethora of facts, statistics, and research findings to draw people's attention to the problem and encourage them to take action. It also highlights the urgent need to eliminate educational inequities in China and promote education equality. Achieving education equality is essential to reflect social equity and promote social and economic development. The paper presents a thorough analysis of the current situation in China and calls for the active participation of citizens in addressing this critical issue.

Neighborhood Councils as A Local Participation Practice: The Case of France

In local governments, which are accepted as the cradle of democracy, the different needs and different solutions of different local units, the fact that the compatriots are affected by administrative decisions rather than political ones, has led to the need for active participation of the compatriots in the decisions of local governments and has led to the emergence of several methods and practices related to administrative participation. Neighborhood councils are one of the practices that ensure the active participation of citizens in the social life created in 2002, by the Law of "Démocratie de Proximité" (proximity democracy) in France. The aim of this study is to examine and describe the neighborhood councils, one of the participation tools that enable its citizens to participate actively in community life. The quantitative analysis method was used as the research method in the study, and in this context, a literature review and document analysis were used. In the first part of the study, a conceptual framework was created over the concepts of neighborhood and participation and examples of neighborhood participation in the world were presented. Then, the decentralization reforms carried out in France since 1982 and the arrangements made to increase local participation in these reforms were examined. In the second part of the study, the tools of local participation and local democracy in France were examined, and then the neighborhood councils formed by the "Proximity Democracy" law created in 2002 were evaluated.

Evaluating the Implementation of Public Participation in Service Delivery Planning in the Democratic Age: A Case of South African Municipalities

The main objective of this article is to evaluate the implementation of public participation in service delivery planning in the democratic age. Over the past few years, there has been a shift in the responsibility of service delivery planning from a centralised (national) level of government to a more decentralised (municipal) level. Contemporary perspectives on planning suggest that the responsibility is no longer regarded as a hierarchical process, but rather as a collaborative process that involves the active participation of citizens as key stakeholders. The notion of public participation is regarded as a crucial factor in the democratisation of service delivery. This is a desktop study, also known as a conceptual study, that is based on collaborative planning theory and democratic decision-making theory to develop ideas and arguments. The article highlights the importance of public participation in service planning, emphasising its significance despite the intricate structures, obstacles, and substantial administrative challenges involved. The assessment is conducted to determine the viability of implementing practical strategies that can effectively support a sustainable service delivery process. The findings of the article indicate that the involvement of the public in integrated development planning (IDP) processes is of utmost importance in ensuring the long-term viability of service delivery. This study posits that it is imperative to assess the continued applicability of the integrated development planning tool in effectively addressing developmental obstacles in rural regions of South Africa. In addition, it is recommended that future studies prioritise the assessment of whether the practice of creating the service delivery budget implementation plan separately from the (IDP) process is not conducive to the emergence of service delivery protests. This would involve investigating the potential misalignment between these two factors across multiple municipalities.

How a left-wing political party fails to keep up with the times

ABSTRACT How can a political party, especially a progressive one, fail to understand and embrace the major changes of its time? The article examines the experience of the Italian Partito Democratico (Democratic Party [P.D.]). Since its foundation in 2007, the party has failed to achieve satisfactory results with regard to its explicit objective of creating a ‘new national party’. Although the party has often joined coalition governments, there has been a marked decline in its electoral support and in the active participation of citizens in its activities. The main thesis of the article is that the current crisis of the P.D. is due to a lack of understanding – almost a rejection – of the two main political changes that have occurred in recent decades: the personalization of politics and the digitalization of society. The party’s refusal to embrace possible political innovations in these areas has been very clear. There is an important paradox here: the fact that a political force which, given its position on the political spectrum, should be looking to the future, instead views the present with great suspicion. This is a position that has become typical of many European left-wing parties, which are well rooted in long-standing political traditions, but are finding it increasingly difficult to understand how societies are changing.

On the field with social science and humanities participatory research

Citizen science is a well-established domain in many scientific disciplines. Far less is known about the practices of citizen science in the social sciences and humanities. The COESO project is fostering and highlighting citizen science practices in the social sciences and humanities. Ten European-based case studies – ”pilots” – reporting on specific challenges have fed the COESO project: five of them began at the beginning of the project in January 2021, while the other five were chosen through an Open Call process in early 2022. Each pilot presents a distinct type and model of collaboration between different kinds of stakeholders, addressing specific societal issues. This diversity has contributed to generating knowledge on challenges and innovative knowledge sharing practices found within participatory practices in the social sciences and humanities research fields. The project promotes developing synergies between practices found within various social sciences and humanities disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, political science, and the arts, with practices employed by non-academic professionals working on societal issues. The 10 pilots provide a platform for collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and citizens, allowing for the co-creation of new knowledge and innovative solutions to pressing societal challenges. The aim of this poster is to show the different engagement strategies co-developed with researchers and community members to involve active citizen participation in the research, as well as the actions and creative outputs carried out to raise awareness of the projects and maintain the interest of participants. From initial stakeholder mapping, information management, data collection and storage to communication and dissemination of results, each pilot has deployed a unique engagement strategy, making COESO an excellent repository of information on the different ways of fostering community engagement with citizen science through social science and humanities initiatives. By showcasing the diversity and potential of these pilots, this poster invites further exploration and collaboration in the exciting and evolving domain of citizen science in the SSH.

Transparency in Financial and Fiscal Affairs at Municipal Level: The Lessons from the Gandaki Province, Nepal

Transparency in Financial and Fiscal Affairs at Municipal Level: The Lessons from the Gandaki Province, Nepal

Possibilities of Digital Media in Perception, Prevention, and Fight Against Corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The development of digital media had made the greater transparency of the corruption phenomena possible, but also the possibilities of active citizen participation in the prevention and fight against corruption. On the other hand, the majority of media in Bosnia and Herzegovina are under dominant political influence which negatively reflects on the intermediation of the corruption phenomena to citizens in terms of objective informing, education, and citizen participation in democratic processes. The topic of this research is the citizens’ opinion about possibilities and ways of use of digital media in perception, prevention, and fight against corruption. The research had been carried out via a method of quantitative and qualitative analysis of surveys on a sample of 399 participants.

Innovative approaches to the development of territorial communities in the Zakarpattia region

The existing strategic guidelines for development may need to be more practical in the changing socio-economic environment and internal challenges. The research is aimed at determining the peculiarities of the development of territorial communities of the Transcarpathian region and highlighting innovative approaches that will contribute to sustainable economic growth, increase the quality of life of the population, and strengthen the economic security of the region. The purpose of the article is to research innovative approaches to the development of territorial communities in Zakarpattia region. The article is devoted to the characteristics of innovative approaches to developing territorial communities of the Zakarpattia region. The main signs of innovativeness in the system of development of territorial communities are substantiated. The peculiarities, advantages, and challenges of decentralization reforms for the communities of the Transcarpathian region are defined and characterized. The Smart approach to the development of territorial communities is characterized. The strategic opportunities for developing territorial communities of the Transcarpathian region are outlined based on a harmonious combination of natural, cultural, economic, and social aspects that contribute to the sustainable and progressive development of the region and ensure a better standard of living for its residents. Introducing innovative methods and technologies is a crucial factor in solving the socio-economic and cultural challenges territorial communities face by analyzing various aspects of innovative development. One of the main conclusions is that innovation can become an engine of growth in the region's economy. By implementing modern technologies in various fields, such as education, medicine, agriculture, and tourism, territorial communities can improve the quality of life of their residents and ensure sustainable economic growth. The need to consider the needs and aspirations of the local population in the process of implementing innovations has been determined. Active participation of citizens in the development and implementation of innovative projects can ensure their success and acceptance by the community. It has been proven that it is essential to emphasize the need to promote interaction between communities and the business environment to create favorable conditions for innovation. Partnerships with the private sector can significantly improve resource provision and support for innovative initiatives. Reasonably, innovative approaches to developing territorial communities are an essential strategy for ensuring the sustainable development of regions. These approaches make it possible to solve existing problems and open new opportunities for further growth and prosperity of communities and their residents. Keywords: territorial communities, innovative approaches, Smart approach, sustainable development.

Agensi dan Kewarganegaraan Inklusif bagi Perempuan Penyandang Disabilitas: Studi Kasus Peran HWDI dalam Penanganan Covid-19 di Jakarta

Persons with disabilities experience vulnerability in fulfilling their right to protection in a pandemic situation This study aims to examine the participation process of groups of persons with disabilities, namely the Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities (Himpunan Wanita Disabilitas Indonesia – HWDI) through the struggle for disability protection during the Covid-19 period in DKI Jakarta. This study uses the perspective of inclusive citizenship to see efforts to involve active participation of citizens in encouraging the fulfillment of rights by the government. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method with narrative analysis techniques. The results of the study show that although HWDI has been able to influence the DKI Jakarta provincial government in several policies, there are rights that still need to be fulfilled in the dimension of inclusive citizenship. These rights include social, civil, and political rights which have not been fulfilled by the government, which has implications for persons with disabilities not being further involved in handling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Toward a Politics of Inclusion: Prospects and Problems of Civic Participation in Indonesia’s Government Decentralization

This article assesses the shortcomings and possibilities of deepening civic participation in Indonesia’s government decentralization. Applying an expositive-critical-reconstructive approach and using Habermas’s theory of law and democracy, this study addresses the main question: “What democratic principles must be adhered to by Indonesian citizens to achieve the purpose of government decentralization?” This article argues that government decentralization in Indonesia has brought democracy closer to the people; however, it did not necessarily result in the active participation of citizens in local government affairs and in crafting local regulations. This deficit requires the local governments to institutionalize the ideal lawmaking procedures and inherit democratic ethos. The local people must be educated and capacitated to maximize the benefits of government decentralization, while civil society groups step in to practice democratic principles in civic participation and lawmaking.

Co-Creating a Nature-Based Social Prescription Intervention in Urban Socioeconomically Deprived Neighbourhoods: A Case Study from RECETAS Project in Barcelona, Spain

Active citizen participation in research is important to generate societal impact of outcomes. Even so, many times, the community input in these processes is limited or non-existent, and co-creation processes are often not documented. This paper describes a structured and systematised protocol to co-create a nature-based social prescribing intervention addressed to face loneliness in urban deprived neighbourhoods. As a result, a nature-based social prescription menu was co-developed with stakeholders from health, social prescription, nature, associative, and research sectors. The menu consists of open spaces and nature activities and will be offered to the participants of a randomised controlled trial to test actions for social prescribing in natural spaces.

INITIALIZATION OF CIVIC IDENTITY OF YOUTH IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The paper considers the signs of initialization of the civic identity of young Ukrainians, which give grounds to believe that the problems of its preservation and reproduction should be the focus of scientific discourse. Two different axes of civic identity have been identified, which is particularly relevant under conditions of black and white shades of russia's war against Ukraine: from congruence to disjuncture. It has been substantiated that young people build a civic identity from the available materials, and these materials are different for young people from different communities. Civic tendencies of young people are based on their everyday experience in certain social, economic, institutional, political and historical contexts. It has been proven that actors involved in the process of building a civic identity should develop practices encouraging young people to struggle with both congruence and the disjuncture they experience, and ensuring a more meaningful civic education that helps young people to construct critical but engaged civic identities. It has been found that civic identity is an incentive for active participation of citizens in public administration, strengthening social consolidation and supporting the stability of the country. The conditions for creating an enabling environment for young people to influence the decisions and policies that affect them have been studied. The need to implement the UN strategic priority – the "Generation Unlimited" motto – has been emphasized, and it has been shown that young people face stigma associated with their traits and impact on society. The stigma fuels policies that marginalize young people and call for safety measures against them, rather than promoting more favourable solutions that allow them to participate positively in the life of society. It has been substantiated that the participation of young people in public administration is also represented in their involvement in decision-making processes that influence their lives through school boards, student unions, youth clubs, national youth parliaments, regional and international youth forums and advisory councils of international organizations.

Legislative regulation of the referendum in Ukraine

The article is devoted to highlighting the current aspects of the legislative regulation of the referendum as an important form of direct people’s power, which is of decisive importance for modern Ukrainian constitutionalism, determines the directions of development of our society and the state, and is also designed to ensure the free expression of will of all citizens in a wide range of issues. The modern world is filled with slogans of many states about “which of them is more democratic and where freedom of expression of will is greater”. One of the manifestations of the presence of the above in the countries is the achieved level of people’s power in the country, that is, the extent to which the existing procedures for expressing the will and exercising the will of the people affect the management of public and state affairs. The formation of a civil society and the development of a legal state involve the transformation of the people from the object of state administration to the main subject of power, which necessitates the development and improvement of all forms of people’s government, which means the broad and active participation of citizens in the management of the affairs of the state and society. Along with this, those institutions of democracy that allow the people to directly solve the most important problems of social and state life are of priority. In Ukraine, the recognition of the people in the Constitution as the bearer of sovereignty and the only source of power, as well as the establishment of the ability to exercise power by the people directly and through state and local authorities, became a serious step in the creation of a democratic and legal state.Referendum is an important form of direct people’s power, which consists in the voting of voters, as a result of which decisions are made on issues of a state or self-governing nature. Considering the importance of this issue, there were many laws in the Ukrainian legislation that were supposed to regulate all issues related to the referendum, such as: the concept of a referendum, the procedure for its holding and the onset of legal responsibility for violating the legislation on the referendum. However, over time, all these laws were repeatedly changed in connection with the discovery of so-called “pitfalls” in them, including: the inconsistency of some norms of the constitution, the lack of regulation of some issues, etc.

Energy citizenship: Accounting for the heterogeneity of human behaviours within energy transition

According to the European Green Deal, achieving energy transition, which aims to establish a shift towards a more sustainable and low-carbon energy system, requires the active participation of citizens. Consequently, the concept of energy citizenship has emerged as a means of understanding the role of citizens in this process. This study conducts an integrative literature review with the objective of providing a comprehensive definition of energy citizenship and distinguishing between different types of energy citizens based on their engagement within the energy system. Six different types of energy citizens (i.e., consumer; prosumer and prosumager; participant in protests and movements; policymaker; business entity; and energy community), acting as either individuals or as collective entities or both, have been defined. This differentiation highlights the heterogeneity of human behaviours within energy transition. We argue that policymaking aimed at fostering energy transition should consider the behavioural dimensions of all types of energy citizens. In order to effectively support a fair, inclusive, and just energy transition, policy measures and intervention instruments need to account for various barriers, drivers as well as the socio-economic context of the diverse stakeholders participating in innovation ecosystems.

Relating Social Media Diffusion, Education Level and Cybersecurity Protection Mechanisms to E-Participation Initiatives: Insights from a Cross-Country Analysis.

Virtual Social Networks (VSN) act as a catalyst for the success of the active participation of citizens in information sharing, collaboration, and decision making. VSN based e-participation tools allow many-to-many communication and collaboration near real-time with users who might be in geographically dispersed locations. It provides a platform to voice opinions and perspectives and share them with others in new and innovative ways. Cybersecurity is a key area that needs to be considered for the success and continuous use of e-participation systems as it protects user privacy and helps to avoid scams, harassment, and misinformation. The intervening effect of cybersecurity protection mechanisms and citizens' education level on the relationship between VSN diffusion and e-participation initiatives is explored in the proposed research model presented in this paper. Moreover, this research model is explored for different stages of e-participation (e-information, e-consultation, and e-decision making) and the five dimensions of cybersecurity (legal, technical, organizational, capacity building, and cooperation). The findings indicate that improved VSN usage has increased e-participation (especially in e-consultation and e-decision making) as a result of improved cybersecurity protection and public education, highlighting the varying importance of different cybersecurity protection measures for three stages of e-participation. Thus, considering the recent problems like platform manipulation, misinformation and data breaches associated with the use of VSN for e-participation, this study emphasizes the importance of regulations, policies, partnerships, technical frameworks, and research to ensure cybersecurity, as well as the importance of education to enable the public to interact productively in e-participation activities. This study is performed using publicly available data from 115 countries and the research model is developed, drawing theoretical basis from the Protection Motivation Theory, Structuration Theory, and Endogenous Growth Theory. This paper recognizes the theoretical and practical implications, and limitations while recommending future research directions.

Effects of Slacktivism on Offline Engagement: Appraising the Role of Political Facebook Memes As a Communication Tool for Young Consumers in Pakistan

The concurrent digital media environment stipulated as participatory media culture refers the active participation of citizens by using Facebook memes as a communication tool. The digital age has led to a new interface for political mobilization and has been credited with the success of several recent political movements. This research appraises the role of political Facebook memes as a communication tool to further investigate the effects of slacktivism on offline engagement of young Facebook users of age (18 to 36) studying at university level from 5 metropolitan cities of Pakistan. The uses and gratification theory was applied to assess the usage of mems by users to gratify their needs for utilizing Political Facebook memes. By applying quantitative approach, a self-structured close ended questionnaire was employed to get responses from 1671 respondents using simple random sampling to understand the perceptions of meme consumers and to infer the results. The correlation and regression tests were applied to analyze the data. The findings of the research suggests that Political Facebook memes play an effective role to provide information of political issues and to deliver a message about the loop holes in system, also tend to relax mind through satire and makes politics interesting for youth. The results also confirm that online engagement of users lead them to offline engagement as it makes them more informed and interested in politics.

ВЗАЄМОДІЯ ГРОМАДЯНСЬКОГО СУСПІЛЬСТВА І ДЕРЖАВИ В УМОВАХ ДЕЛІБЕРАТИВНОЇ ДЕМОКРАТІЇ: УКРАЇНА ТА СВІТОВІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ

The article analyses the concept of deliberative democracy and its impact on the modern political arena, in particular in terms of interaction between government agencies and civil society. In Ukraine, where the effectiveness of communication is becoming increasingly critical against the backdrop of global political challenges, this issue is of particular importance. The article reveals the possibilities of deliberative democracy, focusing on its impact on the dynamics of relations between civil society and the state, with a special attention to Ukraine and general global trends. It examines how this democratic process can influence political initiatives and civic engagement, providing an overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of deliberative methods to enhance the interaction between citizens and the state. Particular attention is paid to the role and significance of deliberative democracy in modern democratic processes, with an emphasis on the Ukrainian and international contexts. It is demonstrated that deliberative democracy, based on in-depth public dialogue and discussion between citizens and the state, can contribute to the legitimacy of legislation and democratic institutions, both in Ukraine and internationally. The article analyses the practical aspects of introducing the deliberative approach and the obstacles that may arise in its implementation. Special attention is paid to the need for dialogue between citizens and the state and its role in strengthening democracy. It is noted that the introduction of deliberative democracy can significantly improve the quality of interaction between the state and civil society, encouraging more active participation of citizens in political life. The author emphasises the importance of further research and development of strategies for integrating deliberative methods into political systems, as well as the need for international cooperation to strengthen democratic processes, both in Ukraine and internationally.

РОЛЬ І ЗНАЧЕННЯ ІНСТИТУТУ СТАРОСТИ В СИСТЕМІ МІСЦЕВОГО САМОВРЯДУВАННЯ В УКРАЇНІ

The article is devoted to an important and topical topic – the study of the role and significance of the institution of the eldership in the system of local self-government bodies. The article emphasizes the fact that local representative democracy contributes to the development of public self-government. Citizens can actively participate in decision-making, make proposals and initiate projects that affect their environment. This contributes to the strengthening of public organizations, the development of local initiatives and the involvement of various social groups in local governance processes. The Institute of Elders promotes stability and social harmony at the local level. The headman plays the role of a mediator and contributes to the resolution of conflict situations, intergroup and interpersonal problems in the community. They contribute to the maintenance of social interaction, the settlement of conflicts, and contribute to the strengthening of trust between citizens. The Institute of Elders, as an institution of local self-government, exists in many countries of the world. Although the name and functions may vary from country to country, the general idea is that the headman is an elected official who represents and acts in the interests of his local community. The mayor promotes the mobilization and unification of the community around common goals and projects. They involve residents to participate in community development, organization of events and cooperation with other organizations and institutions. The Starost Institute, like any institute, has its positive and negative features. It is important to balance the positive and negative aspects of the institution of elders to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with the needs of the community. It has been established that the role and significance of the elder for the local community in Ukraine is important and multifaceted. The role and significance of the elder for the local community in Ukraine is important and multifaceted. Here are some aspects of their role: Representation of the community: The mayor acts as a representative of the community before local self-government bodies, state bodies and other structures. They express the interests, opinions and needs of the community and help solve their problems. Mobilization and cooperation: The mayor promote the mobilization and unification of the community around common goals and projects. They involve residents to participate in community development, organization of events and cooperation with other organizations and institutions. Development of initiatives and self-sufficiency: The mayor promotes the development of citizens’ initiatives, the search for resources and opportunities for the development of the community. They contribute to the creation of conditions for community self-sufficiency and active participation of citizens in decision-making. Maintaining order and resolving conflicts: The mayor is responsible for maintaining public order, resolving conflicts, and promoting harmonious relations in the community. They can help resolve disputes and promote dialogue between citizens. Implementation of projects and programs: The mayor helps to implement projects and programs aimed at the development and improvement of community life. They coordinate the work of the involved resources, monitor the performance. Key words: local representative democracy, local self-government bodies, headman, community representation, corruption.