Agency in Democratic Innovations: Roles, Powers, and Appropriation (Part I)
Language: English
Acknowledging this opportunity, we invite research that explores the diverse roles and degrees of power that social actors, policymakers, as well as a wide array of stakeholders can have within the so-called “democratic innovations”. With this concept, scholars refer to institutions and processes employing deliberative and/or participatory means to enhance inclusive citizen participation and address democratic deficits. Therefore, this session will examine and discuss the intricate webs of multiple agencies that shape the relations within democratic innovations, such as citizens, activists, donors, experts/consultants, private sector, academia, facilitators and civil servants.
We encourage submissions that delve into:
- Attribution of Meanings and Roles: How different actors self-define their roles and ascribe meanings to participation through democratic innovations as well as how they relate to the institutional definition of roles and meanings.
- Power Imbalances and Inclusion: Analysis of power dynamics, representation of marginalised groups, and challenges of inclusion in participatory processes.
- Tensions and Appropriation: Exploring the tensions emerging between participants’ agendas and expectations and the potential appropriation of civic repertoires through political co-option and tokenism.
In sum, this session seeks to critically assess how democratic innovations articulate agency with a focus on fostering democratic participation, improving the quality of representative democracy, and dissent’s potential across different regimes.