‍Citizen's Climate Convention, Ma France 2022 consultation, Conference on the Future of Europe... In the face of the crisis of mistrust in our institutions, participatory democracy has developed widely in France and Europe. However, this development requires it to significantly increase its methodological, ethical and impact requirements, if it is to serve its objective of revitalising representative democracy in the long term.

In France and Europe, the crisis of confidence is now a reality. The latest Cevipof Barometer of Political Confidence (published in January 2022) shows that confidence in national and European institutions is below 50%, with only local authorities still managing to exceed the 50% mark. In addition to abstention, we are witnessing an erosion of consent to collective decision-making at a time when we have to take decisions on an unprecedented scale. These are all alarming signs for the state of our democracy.

Re-engaging citizens in democratic processes

It's hardly surprising, then, that many solutions for re-engaging citizens in democratic processes have been put in place in recent years. The Great National Debate, the Citizens' Climate Convention, the Conference on the Future of Europe... These initiatives show that participatory democracy is developing, using a variety of methodologies and tools. It is also present in the programmes of several candidates for the 2022 presidential election. Citizen involvement enables citizens to take ownership of public action; it thus helps to legitimise public decision-making during a term of office, without replacing it. However, to achieve this objective, participatory democracy must be much more demanding than it is today.

The first requirement is legitimacy, by ensuring broad participation and a representative balance of the participating population. Broad participation means giving a voice to everyone, even, and especially, to those who do not usually feel involved in this kind of process. They must be accessible to everyone, especially people with disabilities. Broad, to create a conscious ownership of the participatory process throughout the population. A balance that is representative of the population, to give it genuine popular legitimacy, rather than that of interest groups.

The second requirement is the ethics of its implementation: rigorous, transparent, neutral and independent. Public confidence in these methods of participation is consubstantial with the success of participatory democracy in presenting itself as a sustainable solution. Neutrality, transparency and independence in relation to the public authorities are the conditions for gaining this trust, and operations seeking to bring out the will of the people must be able to rely on them.

The final requirement is impact. Opening up a conversation with citizens does not mean giving them the power to make decisions, but it does mean engaging with them in a sincere process, with the ultimate aim of taking action. Nor should we restrict the impact to public action. Citizen mobilisation must also involve action by civil society: violence against women, care for the elderly and most public policies are areas in which civil society can take direct action, in parallel with public action.

Rebuilding consensus in collective decision-making

In the citizens' consultation "Ma France 2022", carried out by France Bleu and Make.org, in partnership with France 3 Régions, 1 million French men and women placed issues relating to democratic and institutional renewal well ahead of purchasing power in their priorities. This is a unique opportunity to carry out a mandate by involving millions of citizens in its exercise without reducing parliamentary and institutional prerogatives. But it is also necessary to do so by significantly raising the standards of legitimacy, ethics and impact of participatory democracy.

Let's all give ourselves the means to rebuild our consent to collective decision-making in line with the challenges that lie ahead.

Axel Dauchez and Alicia Combaz, founders of Make.org

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