Les défis d’une participation accrue des citoyens au fonctionnement des institutions: entre développement d’une culture participative et démocratisation des démocraties

The project entitled “Les défis d’une participation accrue des citoyens au fonctionnement des institutions: entre développement d’une culture participative et démocratisation des démocraties” (Challenges of strengthening citizen participation in the functioning of institutions: between the development of a participatory culture and the democratization of democracies – DEFIDEM) is being implemented as part of the IRN (International Research Network) programme of the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research of the French Republic).

This five-year project (1.1.2024.-31.12.2028.) coordinated by Prof. Marthe Fatin-Rouge Stefanini (Aix-Marseille University) deepens the already existing links between partner institutions, established through other previous research projects. The project leader at the University of Zagreb is the Head of the Department of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, Prof. Biljana Kostadinov, who leads the Zagreb research team consisting of Prof. Robert Podolnjak, Prof. Đorđe Gardašević, Assoc. Prof. Ana Horvat Vuković and two doctoral candidates, Dora Pavković and Fran Marko Stojković.

The research network consists of a total of ten (10) partner institutions from nine (9) countries (Belgium, France, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Hungary, Iceland, Switzerland), bringing together researchers from institutions such as: ILF-GERJC (Aix-Marseille Université), Université de Lille, University of Szeged, University of Zagreb, Université Cat. Louvain St. Louis Bruxelles, Université de Genève, University of Reykjavik, University of Dublin, Université Laval, Québec and University of Bari. The choice of countries was dictated by the desire to include a wide range of democratic experiences – some of the countries included do not provide for popular initiative or referendum procedures at the national or federal level (Belgium) or other direct mechanisms available to citizens (Iceland), but they are developing means of participatory and/or deliberative local democracy. In Ireland, citizens’ assemblies are the product of civil society mobilization. Canada raises the question of complementarity/competition between deliberative processes and referenda. Croatia and Italy have developed practices of popular initiative and referendum at the constitutional (Croatia) and legislative (Italy) levels, with a legal framework that is sometimes considered too strict or excessively dependent on the interpretation of the authorities – especially the constitutional courts. Switzerland, on the other hand, places few formal or substantive restrictions on the popular initiative process, and raises questions about the way in which digital technologies transform democratic principles. The case of Hungary is interesting for illustrating the need for a clear framework for the use of consultations and referenda by public authorities, especially considering the way in which the purpose of these votes is presented (social networks, posters, etc.).

The goal of the project is to study the modalities of direct participation of citizens in the work of institutions and the political decision-making process, in a way that would promote inclusiveness and the development of a culture of participation. In this way, it responds to the demands for stronger involvement of citizens and explores ways that enable it in the light of experiments that have already been tested and new proposals. Project partner institutions recognize the urgency in responding to these requests, given the crisis of political representation based on traditional methods of electing and appointing citizen representatives and the high rate of voter abstention. They also recognize the possibilities that the development of digital technology offers for the development of a whole series of new modes of participation, which can return citizens to the heart of the decision-making process. Although questions related to the relevance and effects of participatory mechanisms on the system of representation and decision-making processes are traditionally studied as part of political science research, this project considers the legal perspective to be crucial in researching the practical aspects of citizen participation. Along with promoting a more inclusive democracy and developing a culture of participation, one of the goals of the project is to restore citizens’ trust in their institutions and representatives.

The research is based on two transversal topics that focus on these issues: 1) the relevance of increased citizen participation in the functioning of institutions, and 2) the legal framework necessary for the development of methods of citizen participation. These two questions require an analysis of the context, traditions and culture of democratic participation in each of the countries involved. In particular, this comparative legal research considers the idea of ​​education for democracy and participation, which is a recurring theme in debates about the decline of democratic participation. Additionally, specific topics will be addressed, such as the influence of members of the academic community on innovative processes as a manifestation of the desire of the civil sector to be involved, and the relevance of citizen participation in decision-making processes in emergency situations.