Comments on: Participatory democracy at the weekend

By: Fabio

Fabio — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:44:25 +0000

Indeed it’s an excellent answer Martin. Italian civil society is very strong on paper but in practice it is disentangled and susceptible to partisanship. The “catch” lies right there, namely convincing brilliant and talented individuals to transcend the perimeter of personal professional development and committ themselves to supporting the project for a better society.

Keep an eye on RENA, please and thanks again!

By: Martin

Martin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:11:08 +0000

It’s an excellent question, Fabio, and not an easy one to answer. Are all organisations condemned to succumb to the diplomatic, technocratic and bureaucratic imperatives to which you refer? I know there was never truly an ideal period in America’s young democracy, but I feel nevertheless that we need to rediscover the spirit that reigned in many early American communities whereby public service was seen as a moral imperative for all, rather than a career path for the more motivated. At the same time, you need to keep hierarchies as small and as flat as possible. (The trouble is, ever since I read Pareto I have become a little bit fatalistic about elites – in his sense of the term.) And always apply Occam’s Razor (entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity). Democracy is a culture and a spirit – or it should be. If you can keep the wonderful spirit you have in RENA alive, then your radical ideas will continue to bubble up!

By: Daria

Daria — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:19:06 +0000

Thank’s a lot for your thought-provoking lecture. It was an honour to hear your presentation.

By: Vincenzo

Vincenzo — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:39:51 +0000

Mr. Westlake, your keynote lecture will guide us for long time. You transmitted also passion and enthusiasm. Thank you for having spent your time with us on Saturday.

By: Christian

Christian — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:30:11 +0000

When participatory democracy is working you see the results and also you feel it in your heart…that’s the take-home lesson that is going to influence my future research path on the subject and my every-day work as civil society advocate for the Laboratorio per la sussidiarietà (ww.labsus.org). Thank you so much for bending your no-weekend-work rule. We are looking forward to seeing you in Trento as keynote lecturer in one of the seminars organised within the National Interest Research Program on “Deliberative and Participatory Democracy” led by Prof. Arena.

By: Antonello

Antonello — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:23:23 +0000

Really enriching for all of us. Thank you for your time and for your thoughts!

By: Fabio

Fabio — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:51:39 +0000

Thanks a million Martin. I have a question that I was not able to ask during the plenary, i.e. what sort of mechanisms can we employ not to let diplomatic, technocratic and bureaucratic imperatives drive an organization like RENA away from the original and – far more noble – intentions? in other words, can you suggest the best way to come up with “radical” ideas and let democrats pursue their mission?

By: Alessandro

Alessandro — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:40:16 +0000

Very inspiring indeed, Martin! Many thanks for the exception.

By: Pierpaolo

Pierpaolo — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:25:13 +0000

Thanks a million and on behalf of all the people you addressed for your presentation. Most lively and inspiring.