PARTICIPATIESAMENLEVING IS an ILLUSION on the Shifting Relationship Between Citizens and Civil Servants
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PARTICIPATIESAMENLEVING IS AN ILLUSION On the shifting relationship between citizens and civil servants Abstract With the question “How is the policy Samenleving Voorop changing the participation of citizens in Leusden society?” the paper discusses within the concept of citizenship how the relationship between civil servants and citizens is shifting. Citizenship is about contributing to society. Citizens create network communities. These network communities play a role in achieving new goals when the government is retreating and giving more space to citizens to set up initiatives and take up a greater role in society. Like van der Ham-van Hulten - 5700655 [email protected] Master programme: Cultural Anthropology: Sustainable Citizenship Supervisor Diederick Raven, [email protected] 2 July 2017, Utrecht University … A large aggregate of men, healthy in mind and warm of heart, creates the kind of moral conscience which we call a nation. So long as this moral consciousness gives proof of its strength by the sacrifices which demand the abdication of the individual to the advantage of the community, it is legitimate and has the right to exist. If doubts arise regarding its frontiers, consult the populations in the areas under dispute. They undoubtedly have the right to a say in the matter.” … Wait a while, Gentlemen; let the reign of the transcendent pass; bear the scorn of the powerful with patience. It may be that, after many fruitless experiments, people will revert to our more modest empirical solutions. At certain moments, the best way to be right in the future is to know how to resign one’s self to being out of fashion.” (Renan, 1882, a challenge to his public) The cover photo was taken on 15 September 2016 during the award ceremony for the Best Idea of Leusden. The municipality committed a budget to activate citizens to develop their own austerity measures based on the annual budget. A total of about fifty projects were submitted. Ten made it to the final. Three won a personal prize. In November the Alderman Dragt said that only two of the actual ideas would cut costs, the others would cost money to realize. The activity was considered a success because it mobilized a new target audience, but intrinsically no result with regards to the content. 3 Table of Content Foreword .................................................................................................................................... 7 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................... 9 I. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 11 Leusden .................................................................................................................................... 14 My perspectives as anthropologist – citizen – professional ..................................................... 17 Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 19 Consultation meetings, council meetings and activities ................................................... 19 Selection of activities ........................................................................................................ 19 Stakeholder interviews to hear the different perspectives ................................................ 19 II. Antares: a micro network society in development ............................................................ 21 2006 multi-functional centre: bringing the community together ...................................... 21 Antares: a hub of activity in the middle of the neighbourhood ........................................ 22 An overview of the actors within Antares ........................................................................ 25 From disengagement to engagement in the community ................................................... 25 Upheaval around Café Antares: “finally a successful Café” ............................................ 28 III. Citizenship: contributing to society .................................................................................. 29 Citizenship: one’s position in society ................................................................................... 29 Elements of citizenship ..................................................................................................... 30 Models of citizenship ........................................................................................................ 30 Active versus non-active citizens: interpretation of citizenship ........................................... 30 Biezenkamp – two weeks before a decision a man contributes his thoughts ................... 31 Types of “active citizens” ..................................................................................................... 32 The participation in Leusden when one identifies with the issue ..................................... 34 Van Onder Op protest action ............................................................................................ 36 Democracy: power to the people .......................................................................................... 37 Representative democracy versus participatory democracy ................................................. 39 Not another Tabaksteeg: Think Tank Achterveld ............................................................. 40 Back to city-states? ............................................................................................................... 43 Samenleving Voorop, increasing citizen participation in Leusden ...................................... 44 Samenleving Voorop: what is it exactly? ............................................................................. 46 Involving citizens: policy development versus activities ..................................................... 49 LeusdenFit: creating a healthier youth .............................................................................. 50 Werkgroep Fairtrade Gemeente Leusden ......................................................................... 50 5 Antares: whose responsibility is the building? ................................................................. 51 IV. Creating network communities: citizens contributing to society ...................................... 53 Everyone has their own interest (and perspective) ............................................................... 53 Antares: many different perspectives ................................................................................ 54 Green maintenance – going against the flow .................................................................... 55 Power is all around ............................................................................................................... 56 A common and shared goal .................................................................................................. 57 Leuker Leusden ................................................................................................................. 57 Antares the children as linchpin ........................................................................................ 58 Balancing of asymmetrical relationships .............................................................................. 59 The power relations in Antares ......................................................................................... 59 Community and social interest versus commercial interest ................................................. 61 Customised communities ...................................................................................................... 64 Eurowoningen ................................................................................................................... 64 Buurkracht Alandsbeek – the network for Alandsbeek .................................................... 65 DAVA – Door Achterveld Voor Achterveld .................................................................... 67 Challenge 1: Hearing all the different voices ....................................................................... 71 Developing the policy for Sociaal Domein ....................................................................... 71 Protest against the new bus service ................................................................................... 73 Omgevingsvisie: involving the council members ............................................................. 74 Challenge 2: The awkward tango: shifting relations ............................................................ 75 Van Onder Op: transition, working the new way ............................................................. 76 V. Samenleving Voorop: a reflection .................................................................................... 77 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 80 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 81 6 Foreword Before you lies my research of the Samenleving Voorop a glimpse of Leusden society in 2016-2017. I had the honour to witness a wide selection of activities in Leusden and Achterveld – every citizen I encountered was more than willing to share their vision and experiences of