1. Local engagement in democracy
Findings and implications from Pathways through Participation
18th October 2011
Twitter: #pthwys

2. Available from:
www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources

3. Research questions
How and why does participation begin, continue
and stop?
Can trends and patterns of participation be
identified over time?
What connections, if any, are there between
different forms and episodes of participation
and what triggers movement between them?

4. 101 in-depth
interviews
Life stories
Qualitative research
Individual at the heart
Approach
Participation as ‘situated practice’
3 field work areas:
Leeds Stakeholder
Enfield engagement
Suffolk

5. What is participation?
Social participation:
the collective activities that
individuals are involved in
Public participation:
the engagement of individuals with
the various structures and
institutions of democracy
Individual participation:
people’s individual actions and
choices that reflect the kind of
society they want to live in

6. Why participation starts
Helping others
Developing relationships Groups and organisations
Exercising values & beliefs Local environment and place
Having influence
For personal benefit Practical resources
Being part of something Learnt resources
Felt resources
An emotional reaction
A personal life event
An external influence

7. Why participation
continues or stops
Impact
Life event
Enjoyment
Friendships
Relationships
Time
Health
Energy

8. The factors that shape
participation
Individual motivations
and resources
Relationships and social
networks
Groups and
organisations
Local environment and
place
Wider societal and
global influences

9. Trends and patterns of
participation over time
Priorities
Critical moments
Life stage

10. Conclusions
Participation is personal
Participation can be
encouraged, supported
& made more attractive
Significant barriers to
participation are
entrenched

11. Briefing paper
Also available from:
www.pathwaysthroughparticipation.org.uk/resources

12. Local engagement in
democracy
Social participation:
the collective activities that individuals
are involved in
Public participation:
the engagement of
individuals with the various
structures and institutions of
democracy
Individual participation:
people’s individual actions and choices
that reflect the kind of society they want
to live in

13. The language and image
Local engagement in democracy
The accessibility The practice

14. Language and
image
Voting a Safe seats
Perceptions of ‘civic duty’ discourage
activities were political
important Not ‘political’ participation
Low levels of trust
Perceptions of the and confidence
political system
Politicians seen as self-serving
But perceptions Positive opinions of particular
can be overcome political representatives

15. Practice
Examples of bringing about
Opportunities to change through lobbying
participate No examples of public bodies
proactively engaging with people
Tokenistic and/or repetitious
Negative experiences
of public consultations Decision already made
Tension between
People wanted
Perceptions of motivation of
to see the
impact citizens and
impact of their
needs of public
participation
bodies

16. Accessibility
Need to respond
Need to
Opportunities to to their needs
complement
participate motivations and
people’s lives
expectations
A lack of Sometimes
People’s resources stop due to
resources people from systemic
participating inequalities
Relationships
Relationships and Groups important can determine
groups source of public success of
participation participation

17. Implications
Language and Practice Accessibility
image
Increase impact of Involve people early Show that people will
individual’s vote and be genuine be welcome and valued
Engage with citizens Understand people’s Support social
on their terms motivations and be participation
flexible
Value, respect and Work with those
resource those already Show the impact and actively engaged to
actively engaged limit the cost of connect with others
participation
Recognise what is easy
and difficult to
influence

18. Group discussion
What has
What are the What else do we
particularly struck
implications? need to know?
you?