Beyond big narratives. An inquiry into changing socioeconomic paradigms and the role of participatory mechanisms in urban contexts

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The Participation of Senior Citizens in Policy-Making: Patterning Initiatives in Europe

Publication . Falanga, Roberto; Cebulla, Andreas; Principi, Andrea; Socci, Marco

Worldwide, active aging policy calls for greater participation of senior citizens in the social, economic, and political realms. Despite emerging evidence of initiatives engaging senior citizens in social activities, little is known about the use of participatory approaches in the design and/or implementation of policies that matter to older citizens. This article identifies initiatives facilitating the civic participation of older people in policy-making in European Union member and associate states, drawing on a review of the literature, consultation of national policy experts, and exemplary case studies. Four main patterns of senior civic participation are identified: adopting consultative or co-decisional participatory approaches in policy design or policy implementation. The four are represented to varying degrees at different geographical levels (national, regional, local), with different actor configurations (appointed, elected/nominated, corporate representation), and with varying degree of institutionalization (temporary/permanent). Case studies illustrate approaches taken to enhance the quality and effectiveness of public services for senior citizens. Future research should strengthen this line of enquiry to cast further light on conditions facilitating the civic participation of senior citizens.

2020Journal article

Open access

The evaluation of citizen participation in policymaking: Insights from Portugal

Publication . Falanga, Roberto; Ferrão, João

While citizen participation in policymaking is on the rise worldwide, the scholarly debate centring around its evaluation has not developed to the same extent. The article discusses the methodology and findings of the evaluation of the project "Portugal Participa: Caminhos para a Inovação Societal" which started at the end of 2014, and was implemented in 2015 and 2016, in Portugal. As the project promoted actions at both national and local levels, the evaluation accounted for both layers with a major focus on the analysis of procedures and outputs to examine its success. Through the application of a multi-method approach - data collection and analysis, cost-effectiveness assessment, interviews, pre-post surveys, and counterfactual focus groups - involving a wide array of agents - political representatives, civil servants, NGOs, citizens, national academia, and the funding sponsor - findings have helped retrieve three main insights that aim to contribute to future research on the evaluation of citizen participation in policymaking, which should shed light on: the (re)connection of multiple agents; the role within the governance systems; and the pursuit of social inclusion.

2021Journal article

Open access

Measuring citizen participation in urban regeneration: a reflection on the construction of the participation index for the Bip/Zip programme in Lisbon

Publication . Falanga, Roberto

Citizen participation in policymaking has become a worldwide key reference for the design and implementation of urban regeneration. Despite the growing rate of participatory processes, little evidence or scientific debate has been fostered on their measurement and, broadly speaking, evaluation. While challenges in providing robust evaluations are related to the difficulties in providing common definitions of citizen participation in policymaking, the limited sharing of theories and evidence compromises a more comprehensive understanding of the socio-political phenomenon. The article contributes to this topic by discussing the conceptualisation and operationalisation of the participation index for the Bip/Zip programme. Since 2011, the programme has tackled socio-spatial inequalities in 67 priority areas of Lisbon by funding local partnerships composed of local associations, NGOs, and parish governments committed to engaging local communities in the development of their activities. The participation index will be formulated from the convergence of data collected through quantitative and qualitative methods on the constitution of partnerships, the implementation of initiatives, and the provision of public funding. The discussion provides critical reflection upon opportunities and challenges of the ongoing process from the academic and policy sides, which can positively stimulate future research on the topic.

2019Journal article

Open access

Participatory budgets in Brazil and Portugal: comparing patterns of dissemination

Publication . Falanga, Roberto; Lüchmann, Lígia Helena Hahn

The dissemination of citizen participation in policymaking has increased considerably worldwide, as in the case of participatory budgeting, considered as the best-known democratic innovation in this field of study and practice. In order to share empirical knowledge about participatory budgets, the article provides a comparative analysis of patterns of dissemination in Brazil and Portugal. These countries were selected for being paradigmatic cases in the dissemination of participatory budgets. The comparative analysis of sociopolitical contexts and institutional designs sheds light on similarities and differences on democratic frameworks, political and non-political agents, target public, approach to participation, and main goals. Findings point to similarities in the passage from the dictatorial to the democratic regime in both countries, and differences in the role of political parties and social agents behind the dissemination. It is within such sociopolitical contexts that non-associated citizens are the target of participatory budgets in both countries, although they are differently approached because address different goals.

2020Journal article

Restricted access

Participatory processes and civil servants' perceptions of change in public administration. A study from Lisbon

Publication . Falanga, Roberto

In the last few decades, participatory processes have expanded across a wide array of policy domains. However, while scholarly production on the political and societal aspects of participatory policymaking has been abundant, little attention has been paid to the changes brought about in public administration. The article addresses this topic by discussing the findings about civil servants’ perceptions of change in the municipality of Lisbon. The study was conducted with 29 civil servants engaged in the management of four participatory processes between 2011 and 2012. The discourse analysis of the interviews allows for the identification of four main changes perceived by civil servants, which entail the combination of organisational models; the implementation of new institutional designs; the reconfiguration of political and administrative powers; and the definition of new goals of social justice.

2024Journal article

Restricted access