With the start of summer this year a group of young people decided to awake Warsaw. “It’s time to break with the communist curfew tradition,” they demanded. “The centre can and should bustle with life, positive energy and music”.
Undoubtedly, they proved to be ingenious and full of belief in the cause. They received a wide support from people who likewise dream of a city vibrant with life, also at night. As a result, an idea was put forward to create some special public zones within the city where café and pub gardens can stay open all night through.
Warsaw’s socio-cultural animators share the conviction that what should be done first is to listen carefully to what local residents have to say, to engage them in decision-making and event creation so that they can feel hosts and co-organizers themselves.
The curfew issue is a classical social conflict which affects all residents. At the same time, despite its universal scope it can be handled on a local level. It has been publicized enough to become a regular topic of public debates. It evokes strong emotions, but still, rational and reasonable arguments can be found on both sides. Perhaps it’s a great chance for Warsaw to face the challenge of the so called Democratic Innovations?
Democratic innovations are in fact institutions created and established to enhance and deepen the participation of citizens in a political decision-making process so that they have a direct influence on the decisions in the key areas concerning them. Professor Radosław Markowski, a political scientist, shared his knowledge with us on the conditions that are of key importance for such an undertaking.
According to the prototype of Deliberative Democracy method small groups of citizens are gathered to discuss a moot point. The participants are selected in such a way as to represent a wide array of interests and opinions. Usually they are local leaders, competent and engaged in public affairs. In order to solve a problem by means of arguments it is necessary to provide full access to information so that the participants can consult studies and expertise and have the right to appoint suitable experts. The proceedings are overseen by a moderator to ensure a fair conduct. It all costs, but in the long-term proves profitable.
Democratic Innovations are by principle oriented towards enhancing the citizenship aspect of politics. Therefore, it would be unwise to wait for ‘somebody’ to do it for us. It has to be a grass roots initiative, our initiative. If the tools start to be used by politicians, the entire idea becomes distorted.
It is of key importance for the organizers of an event to enter into a contract with local authorities. It should be clear from the start who takes what responsibility. At best, such a contract requires the authorities to make an irrevocable commitment to carry out the decisions taken by the community members. Thanks to it even the participants themselves make more reasonable decisions, feeling at the same time that the work they do is real. Towards the end, the act of handing over the decisions reached through deliberation should be performed in a solemn way with the participation of media. It is a contract in a sociological meaning – a form of a political promise. If the authorities do not observe the provisions of the contract they will have to account for it in public.
The social legitimization of the decisions reached through deliberation is one of two main advantages. The other is the socializing function: all participants learn to listen to one another and once the decisions are taken they long continue to be the ambassadors of the option they found best.
translated by
Anna Kowalczyk
