July 13, 2023
How can we support citizens in their self-efficacy as political subjects and arm them against the simplistic populism of the AFD? In the podcast "Politisches Feuilleton" from Deutschlandfunk Kultur, Daphne Büllesbach presents the model of the Municipal Development Advisory Councils and describes how they become places of political education and activation where democratic processes can be experienced.
By bringing together democratically legitimized decision-makers and non-legitimized citizens, representatives of local initiatives and local entrepreneurs for a year to work together on a pressing issue for the future of the community, and by putting conflicting interests on the table and moderating them professionally, a constructive exchange is created.
Through effective participation, mutual trust can grow, local belonging can be experienced, and ultimately a foundation for shared community design can be created.
You can find out more about the "Municipal Development Advisory Councils" project here.