[Tps] TPS/ECPR Policy Network - CFP Citizen Participation in Policy Making

[navdeep]

*Call For Papers:  *

*"Citizen Participation In Policy Making" *

*14-15 February 2007 Bristol, UK*

 

*DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS OF PAPER PRESENTATIONS: 16^th October 2006*

*Please send your abstracts to Julie Triggle, University of the West of 
England by email, julie.triggle at uwe.ac.uk*

* *

*About the conference*

 

With an increasing emphasis in Europe and beyond on citizen 
participation, democratic renewal and partnership working, opportunities 
for citizens as individuals and for citizen organisations to participate 
in the formulation and implementation of policy have mushroomed.  But 
how far is power being shared or reconfigured?  And who benefits from 
participation? Research to date suggests that the rhetoric does not 
always match up to reality while, even where there is a commitment to 
participation, new forms of governance pose new challenges for 
government bodies, for civil society, and for citizens. These include 
tensions between representative and participatory democracy; how to 
handle conflict and diversity; engaging marginalised groups; leadership, 
representation and accountability; how to avoid co-option.

 

There is a growing body of research looking at the theory and practice 
and in this work-in-progress seminar, we want to compare experience 
across Europe, exploring both the concepts and frameworks that are being 
used to analyse participation and the empirical evidence that is being 
amassed.  We are approaching leading scholars in different parts of 
Europe to present an overview of research and their analysis of key 
concepts and findings.  We are also inviting scholars to present 
research papers at the conference on the following themes:

 

    * Frameworks for analysing citizen participation
    * Empirical studies of participation
    * Research on key dilemmas
    * Evidence of impact
    * Methodological and ethical challenges, e.g. in measurement; in
      adopting participatory approaches.

 

The seminar will provide an opportunity to bring together case studies 
from different parts of Europe and, in order to enhance comparability, 
we will be particularly interested in proposals which address:

    * The institutional characteristics of participatory structures: how
      people are involved and at what level/stage in the policy process;
      who is involved and in what capacity (users, elected
      representatives, voluntary associations etc.)
    * the assumptions and theories of change underpinning new mechanisms
      for participation;
    * how mechanisms for participation fit with local political structures;
    * intended and actual outcomes of participation.

 

 

WHO

The conference is open to all members of the CINEFOGO Network as well as 
for other interested academics and practitioners. PhD students are 
particularly encouraged to apply.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

 

Julie Triggle, Research Office, Faculty of the Built Environment, 
University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, 
BRISTOL, BS16 1QY

julie.triggle at uwe.ac.uk

Tel: +44-(0)117-328-3209; Fax: (0)117-328-3998

 

COSTS

 

The conference will be free for paper-givers and for members of the 
CINEFOGO Network of Excellence, while travel and accommodation costs 
will be covered by each individual participant. Some bursaries will be 
available for PhD students.

 

 

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