EUARENAS

The increasing gaps between political decision-making processes and citizens in Europe, exacerbated by economic, political, and security crises, have revealed a pressing need for enhanced democratic practices. Populist and neo-nationalist forces, misinterpreting the pluralistic nature of democracy as a weakness, have further contributed to a general distrust of politics. EUARENAS explores the potential consequences of these trends on multicultural conviviality and social cohesion in Europe. However, it also sheds light on counter-currents of local political activism and the recognition of social movements’ role in promoting inclusion, social agendas, and active citizenship, particularly in urban areas. Cities have become crucial political arenas for fostering the European public sphere and facilitating more participatory and inclusive forms of governance. Through case studies and governance innovation initiatives, this research investigates the transformative power of social movements coupled with local government reforms in driving political change.

Objectives of EUARENAS: The EUARENAS project aimed to examine the following aspects related to the emergence and impact of governance innovations:

1. Emergence and Strategies: This research will delve into the origins of these practices, identifying the main actors, their strategies, the methods they employ, and the digital platforms they utilize to attract attention. Furthermore, it will explore how these actors appropriate urban spaces for their deliberative activities.
2. Influencing Factors: Economic, political, and cultural factors exert significant influence on the outcomes of local governance innovations. This study seeks to analyze and understand the interplay of these factors in shaping the local context and its implications for participatory democracy.
3. Governance Implications: Horizontal and vertical governance implications will be investigated to comprehend the transformative potential of governance innovations. The examination will shed light on how these initiatives impact power dynamics, decision-making processes, and the redistribution of authority among stakeholders.
4. Added Value of Participatory/Deliberative Means: The article will explore the tangible benefits brought forth by participatory and deliberative processes, particularly in relation to issues such as housing, social care, social justice, social diversity, and climate change. By assessing the outcomes of these approaches, the research aims to identify the added value they offer to the broader community.

The Comparative Research Network (CRN) has played an important role in the EUARENAS project. Through its engagement in various work packages (WPs), CRN has contributed significantly to the project’s success and the broader understanding of democratic governance.

Engagement in WP3: Case Studies

CRN’s involvement in WP3 has been marked by its dedication to investigating recent experiments in democratic governance at the local level. The main goal was to create arenas open to citizens for collective decision-making through public deliberation. CRN focused on gathering evidence of urban experiments with new forms of participatory and deliberative democracy. A notable contribution from CRN was a case study from Berlin-Wedding, which provided valuable local knowledge on citizen-based models for addressing governance gaps, threats of populism, and challenges of urban transition. This case study also helped in evaluating the transferability of successful experiments among different socio-economic and environmental contexts.

Objectives of WP3

• Gathering existing evidence of urban experiments.
• Developing local knowledge on citizen-based governance models.
• Evaluating the transferability of successful experiments.

Leadership in WP4: Piloting

CRN led WP4, which focused on developing and implementing new solutions to local problems through innovative pilot projects. These pilots aimed to produce and exchange knowledge in close interaction with other work packages, thereby increasing urban sustainability. The activities in WP4 were grounded in real-life contexts, emphasizing co-creation and iterative testing of pilot prototypes. This approach ensured that the solutions developed were not only innovative but also practical and adaptable to changing conditions.

Main Goals of WP4

• Innovation: Developing new solutions to local problems.
• Knowledge development for replication.
• Increasing urban sustainability.

Main Activities of WP4

• Developing innovation based on the EUARENAS toolkit.
• Co-creation with various stakeholders.
• Iterative testing and refinement of pilot prototypes.

Participation in WP5: Foresight

CRN also participated in WP5, which aimed to use a mixed-method approach to foresight to investigate and hypothesize future trends and scenarios in participatory democracies. CRN’s contributions included practical methodological guides on conducting foresight research, projecting future social scenarios, and synthesizing learning from foresight research to inform wider project findings. This work package aimed to create more equitable and inclusive democratic scenarios, which would serve as a foundation for future democratic processes.

Goals of WP5

• Using hybrid methodological approaches to foresight research.
• Developing practical methodological guides.
• Creating a conceptual synthesis of foresight research findings.

CRN’s participation in the EUARENAS project has been instrumental in advancing the understanding and practice of participatory democracy. By leading WP4 and contributing significantly to WP3 and WP5, CRN has demonstrated its commitment to fostering democratic engagement and co-governance at the local level. The insights and innovations developed through this project will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the field of democratic governance.