DO WE TRUST DEMOCRACY? A FUTURE AGENDA FOR We sincerely thank the contributors for authoring thought-provoking essays articulating their vision on the health of democracy and trust in Europe.

Our special thanks goes out to Lotte Geunis for her help in editing our introductory essay.

This publication was conceptualised by Paul Maassen, Sandra Pernar, Helen Turek, and Peter Varga.

The publication was edited by Namita Kambli and Elisabeth Wiltshire from The Democratic Society, together with the OGP team.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Open Government Partnership.

Copyright: This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. CONTENTS

5 Europe and Open Government — A Powerful Opportunity 38 Building the Common Good PAUL MAASSEN LEON KRIER

8 Democracy Beyond Elections in Europe: 40 It Is About Both Social and Political Trust The Case for Participatory Democracy SANDOR LEDERER ALBERTO ALEMANNO 42 A Message of Hope 10 Democracy and Immigration — Culture of Fear MICHAEL O’FLAHERTY RABEE ALREFAI 44 Transparency, Disinformation, and New Legislation 12 A Digital Backbone for a Citizens’ Europe for Political Parties DOROTHEE BÄR KAJSA OLLONGREN

14 Democracy Is a Costly Gift, One That Must Be 46 Role Update: The Civil Servant in the Networked Society Constantly Developed ADRIAN SOLITANDER, PIERRE MESURE, AND JENNY PERSSON CHRISTINE BOSSE 48 Accountable Public Governance: From 16 Rebuilding Trust — Brick by Brick "Decide-Announce-Defend" to "Engage-Deliberate-Decide" GURPREET BRAR TEELE PEHK

18 Democracy and Digital: The Need for a New Social Contract 50 Battles for Ideas MÁRIO CAMPOLARGO MICHALIS PERSIANIS

20 The Wrong Indicator 52 Meaningful Civil Participation and an Independent MATTHEW CARUANA GALIZIA Civil Society — Essential Elements of Our Common European Future 22 Looking for Responsible Leaders for Climate Change ANNA RURKA ADÉLAÏDE CHARLIER 54 Health of Democracy in Europe: 24 Is Inclusive, Responsive, and Accountable Building Trust via Local Government Open Government Enough? EMILIA SAIZ CARRANCEDO TINA DIVJAK 56 Politics — a Personal Affair, a Public Affair 26 What It Takes to Rebuild Trust in Institutions JURAJ ŠELIGA KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA 58 From Algo-Democracy to Polis: Reclaiming 28 Restoring Resilience: Some Thoughts on Current Human Participation in a Post-Human World Challenges Faced by European Democracies DR. PRODROMOS TSIAVOS and Possible Answers to Them MARIA GOLUBEVA 60 Empowering Civil Society for Better Control Over Digital Platforms 30 The Crisis of Representative Democracy Asks HENRI VERDIER for Education-Based Solutions GEORGE JIGLAU 62 Improving Government Responsiveness as a Way of Regaining Citizen's Trust 32 A Shared Ambition in Defence of Democracy and Willingness to Engage VĚRA JOUROVÁ IGOR VIDAČAK

34 Modern Caravels: Three Adventures from 64 Does the EU Want What Its Neighbours Need? INGRIDA KALINAUSKIENĖ JEFF LOVITT

36 Democracy and Development, Thinking Forward ELINA KALKKU Christine Bosse

Elina Kalkku Dorothee Bär Adrian Solitander, Pierre Mesure, and Jenny Persson Teele Pehk Kajsa Ollongren NETHERLANDS

Maria Golubeva Adélaïde Charlier

Ingrida Kalinauskiene Gurpreet Brar LITHUANIA

Michael O’Flaherty Anna Rurka IRELAND

Leon Krier Juraj Šeliga

Věra Jourová Sandor Lederer

George Jiglau

Michalis Persianis

Kristalina Georgieva Mário Campolargo

Dr. Prodromos Tsiavos

Emilia Saiz Carrancedo Alberto Alemanno Tina Divjak

Henri Verdier Rabee Alrefai Igor Vidačak

Matthew Caruana Galizia EUROPE AND OPEN GOVERNMENT — A POWERFUL OPPORTUNITY

The European election of 2019 is said The Open Government Partnership to be a watershed moment that will (OGP) is publishing this thought- ask voters to choose between more provoking collection of essays to or less Europe, between inclusion and breathe new life into this debate. The diversity or exclusion and nationalism, essays are written by a diversity of and between societies that are more European voices from all Member open or more closed. States, including leading decision- makers, civil society activists, These are false dichotomies. The right journalists, academics, and youth question to ask is how Europeans can leaders, among others. get a Europe that delivers better. For PAUL MAASSEN all. At European, national, and local Three leading ideas for strengthening level - and beyond. Europe in years to come emerge from @maassenpaul the essays: We are well aware of what Europe needs to deliver on. The 2018 Better quality dialogue and Eurobarometer1 lists migration, jobs, participation on issues people care Paul Maassen is OGP’s Chief of terrorism, and climate change as about – The authors ask ‘Europe’ to Country Support, leading a people’s biggest concerns. The address the big topics of our time: 2 global team that provides strategic 2019 Edelman survey demonstrates migration (Alrefai), climate (Charlier), support to all OGP stakeholders that trust in institutions – media, digital rights and governance (Bär; at the national and local level. government, and civil society – is Campolargo; Verdier). They call for still very low across the continent, institutions based on transparency He is also Secretary General of although people trust the EU more and participation (Georgieva; Lederer; OGP Europe. than their national governments. Rurka). Several also want to see more Many people either feel left behind, dialogue and participation from the worse off, or both. They fear for the top down (Seliga; Golubeva) and to future and worry about their cultural build a democratic Europe from the identity. And they perceive democratic bottom up (Saiz; Kalinauskiene). In institutions to be captured by elites short, replace a ‘Brussels’ technocratic whose actions benefit the powerful at governance approach with a people- the expense of the people they should centred one. be serving. Smarter use of technology, combined For these reasons, this election with ‘European-style’ regulation – Not demands a reflection on the choices surprisingly, four of the political pieces before us. Governments, businesses, focus on the broader challenges of the civil society, and media alike are digital age (Bär; Verdier; Ollongren; struggling to make sense of how they Jourova). They advocate working got here and where to go next. They with and regulating tech companies, are looking to understand how they ultimately shaping a digital era that can deliver whilst rebuilding trust and works for citizens and protects fostering healthy democracies along societies from manipulation. the way. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

5 CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE has been facing calls from citizens Paris and Madrid have introduced who want more of a say in the participatory budgeting programmes More collaboration and leadership decisions that actually shape their which give their citizens a direct say in inside the EU and across the lives; citizens who want governments how their city budgets are spent,while globe – Some see room for more that make them an active part of what Madrid has shared its platform12 European collaboration on cross- they do – governments that invite with 100 other governments across border challenges, such as fighting feedback, consult, deliberate, and the globe. financial crime (Caruana Galizia) or co-create. money, misinformation, and politics These are not technical fixes, and (Ollongren). Two-thirds of Europeans This is exactly what open government open governments cannot be built worry about false information and is about. And it is happening. Across by bureaucrats alone. At the heart fake news being used negatively. Europe, reformers from government of it all sits a commitment to change Several essays ask for Europe to lead and civil society are embracing the culture of government, the DNA by example, to inspire and provide inspiring approaches that empower of decision-making. When EU First support to democracy outside Europe citizens to shape the policies and Vice-President Frans Timmermans (Alrefai; Kalkku; Vidacak). services that affect their daily lives. spoke at an OGP event in late 2017,

These are not technical fixes, and open governments cannot be built by bureaucrats alone. At the heart of it all sits a commitment to change the culture of government, the DNA of decision-making.

Without exception, the authors urge OGP, for example, is already shaping he emphasised “give-and-take” – the Europe to be brave and take the lead inspiring innovations around the importance of recognising that trust is a in defining the future (Brar; Bosse). All ideas captured in this collection of two-way street. A government that truly ideas combined sketch a way forward essays along the lines of: wants to place citizens at the heart of for reimagining and re-energising its work can only do so by trusting them democracy beyond the ballot box. Better dialogue and participation – – with information, with opportunities 8 9 Estonia and Croatia have delivered for decision-making, with real choices Globally, the EU stands tall as platforms for citizens to influence (Pehk; OpenTeamGov). a champion and custodian of policy-making. Italy10 has shaped good governance. Recent ‘Better opportunities for citizens to monitor And this is where the real opportunity Regulation’3 initiatives have and report on the billions of euros for Europe lies. Political leaders should delivered unprecedented openness spent within the country through EU focus on building consensus rather and transparency, creating ample funding programmes. Germany11 has than breeding conflict. They should opportunities for those who want to created an innovative competition steer us away from polarisation. engage. Other landmark initiatives programme to strengthen the Their focus should not be on how we include the Transparency Register,4 integration of migrants. are different, but on what we have the 5th Anti-Money Laundering in common (Krier). Where we do Directive,5 the recent introduction Smart tech the European way – France disagree, our leaders should create of the General Data Protection and the Netherlands are working to opportunities for dialogue and let the Regulation,6 and the Whistleblower increase transparency of algorithms diversity of perspectives make our Protection rules.7 used by governments to make solutions stronger. In other words, decisions and allocate resources. we need a politics of dialogue, not of These results count. However, to crowd-pleasing slogans. really change the European narrative Leadership and collaboration – The from one of elites and ivory towers UK, Slovakia, and several other Sharing space does not always come to one of people and opportunities, countries are collaborating around the naturally to those in power. Trust is we need leaders who dare to dream introduction of beneficial ownership difficult to gain, and easy to lose. If bigger. For too long now, ‘Brussels’ registries which tackle financial crime. Europe is looking to build a healthy

6 democracy, it cannot however cut that OGP has helped pioneer. Why realities. No more roaming costs; corners. It has to invest. not experiment with tech-facilitated increased social safeguards; extra participatory budgeting for the income; better environmental From what OGP has learned over regional funds or citizen monitoring of protection and air quality; and more the years, the following immediate EU spending? There is without doubt privacy safeguards, to name but a and important opportunities for an opportunity to team up with digital few. The EU reticence to communicate Europe emerge. leaders to define digital governance loudly and proudly for actions taken ‘the European way’. and impacts achieved is doing it a Better dialogue and participation – disservice (Brar). The EU should select a handful of Leadership and collaboration – policy areas that are alive in the hearts The EU must continue to raise the These approaches demand a real and minds of European citizens today bar on frontier issues such as lobby change in mindset, a genuine (e.g. the climate crisis; job security; transparency, financial crime, data commitment from the highest to the education) and open these up to privacy, and whistleblower protection. lowest levels of government to ‘do honest, meaningful, and responsive Recent developments in these areas government differently’ – not just dialogue across the continent. The are praiseworthy, but there is room for for, but with the people. Such an outgoing European Commission has improvement and there are loopholes investment will help build a Europe put in place a strong foundation of to be closed. EU institutions must that delivers better. transparent and evidence-based continue to work with, and listen policy-making. The incoming one closely to, citizens and civil society Open government can help must build on that by infusing it with groups who have been championing rebuild citizen trust across the richer and deeper participation and these issues from the very beginning. continent, connecting the needs through improved responsiveness. Ambitious results are within Europe’s and expectations of Europeans in The backbone is there – it is time to grasp, and European norms have the the East and the West, of aspiring invest in the muscle and soul of the potential to grow into global ones. It is minorities and anxious majorities, EU’s citizen engagement agenda. this type of leadership that is needed of those inside the EU and those to keep democracy healthy. just outside. The 2019 elections and Smart tech the European way – It ensuing years present Europe with is imperative to make technology There is a golden opportunity to a powerful opportunity to pave an work for people, and not the other connect with citizens on how the EU exciting future – one that is anchored way around. The EU should be delivers for them – how it shapes, firmly in the core foundations of unapologetic in learning from and protects, and changes their lived open government. adapting the inspiring innovations

1 http://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/ResultDoc/download/DocumentKy/86484. 2 https://www.edelman.com/trust-barometer. 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-making-process/planning-and-proposing-law/better-regulation-why-and-how_en. 4 http://ec.europa.eu/transparencyregister/public/homePage.do. 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32018L0843. 6 https://gdpr-info.eu/. 7 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190410IPR37529/protecting-whistle-blowers-new-eu-wide-rules-approved. 8 https://rahvaalgatus.ee/. 9 https://savjetovanja.gov.hr/. 10 https://opencoesione.gov.it/en/. 11 https://kommunalwettbewerb-zusammenleben.de/. 12 http://consulproject.org/.

7 DEMOCRACY BEYOND ELECTIONS IN EUROPE: THE CASE FOR PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY

For almost two decades, there has citizens at the forefront of the EU been a widespread, intensifying belief integration process and empowers that, without greater involvement them to both set and monitor agendas, of citizens, the as long advocated by the Open (EU) is condemned to fail. As time Government Partnership. goes by, this prophecy is becoming self-fulfilling. Despite renewed, Europe’s original sin countless calls for the need to bring Behind such a pressing move is the voices of everyday citizens into a growing demand to render EU public life, little is set to change ahead action intelligible and democratically of and beyond the next European legitimate. This entails making the EU ALBERTO ALEMANNO elections. The emergence of populist accountable for its actions and better forces claiming to represent people @alemannoEU representative of its residents – not as a whole has eclipsed and, as a aalemanno only as a sum of its nationals but result, reversed the EU’s participatory also as a transnational community of agenda instead of accelerating it. The European citizens. While accountability failure of the much-awaited European Alberto Alemanno is Jean Monnet and political representation Citizens’ Consultations – the first Professor of European Union mechanisms are the bread-and-butter pan-European participatory project of any democratic state, these features Law at HEC Paris. He is also to involve citizens from all Member are missing in the European Union the founder of The Good Lobby States of the European Union in due to a combination of institutional and the author of ‘Lobbying for a debate about the future of the design and history. As a result, there Change: Find Your Voice to continent – epitomises the limited are currently no political channels Create a Better Society’. commitment to, and imagination of, accessible to European citizens (or genuine participation in Europe. any other actors) to hold their member The EU needs to urgently move states and political representatives away from such ad-hoc participatory accountable within the EU. This is processes designed on a country-by- obviously deeply problematic as it country basis as quick, unstructured, invariably translates any criticism of under-funded and often patronising the EU into a wholesale rejection fixes to an old, persistent problem. of its underlying project and further It must instead embrace an entire aggravates abstention in the European new participatory paradigm that puts parliamentary elections.

Between deep societal transformations and the technological revolution which are fostering greater expectations for participation, the time has come for the EU to become more participatory and collaborative in its decision-making.

8 Participatory democracy alternative, unconventional forms European Citizens’ Consultations or as the way forward of participation that are capable of Dialogues. It is instead through the channelling citizens’ pluralistic input creation of an accessible, intuitive and To compensate for this political into political conversation and bringing safe space accommodating public accountability vacuum, the EU citizens closer to their representatives input on a daily basis that the EU will has over time decided to draw its and vice-versa, both during and reconcile itself to its own democratic democratic legitimacy not only from between elections. and accountability challenge. representative democracy, but also from participatory democracy. Yet, It is only by getting the European By centralising all participatory more recent avenues of participation institutional machinery exposed to channels in a one-stop forum involving unfortunately remain unknown to the the needs and preferences of its all EU institutions – who will also be many (e.g. EU citizens) and overused communities on the ground that it will in charge of addressing, reviewing, by the few (e.g. corporate lobbyists). be possible to realign the local with and filtering public input – the EU will As people increasingly feel the effects the EU day-to-day governance. As become accessible and intelligible of EU policies on their lives, there the migration crisis demonstrated, to the many and accordingly more exists a growing yet undetected Europe cannot afford to appear responsive to their input. The ultimate demand for participation beyond passive apropos its citizens concerns aim of such a participatory and elections within European societies. of perceived danger. This requires performative framework would be to The challenge for the Union is to be a fundamental change in political as have the most promising proposals, able to capture such a popular fluid well as administrative and legal culture ideas, and complaints trickle down into demand and accommodate it within its in Europe. Between deep societal the daily work of each institution. This rigid institutional framework. transformations and the technological day-to-day participatory framework revolution which are fostering greater would not magically fix the European Building European civic capacity expectations for participation, the accountability deficit. To thrive, it time has come for the EU to become will require the adoption of a set of Should they be built into existing more participatory and collaborative in positive, supportive measures capable decision-making procedures, existing its decision-making. of levelling the playing field within and participatory democracy practices amongst the interests represented could offer the EU a powerful and Towards a one-stop-shop before the Union and paving the responsive accountability system participatory forum for Europe way for the setting up of a European capable of making the EU more ‘civic grid’. responsive, and ultimately restoring Any meaningful attempt at making public faith in its political institutions participatory democracy work in The clock is ticking: either the and turning the EU into a people’s Europe requires an effort at simplifying European Union starts providing project. For this to occur, the EU must its operations in the eyes of the meaningful participatory opportunities create an enabling and collaborative public. In other words, Europe won’t to its citizens capable of affecting their political environment to foster citizen find its democratic soul in a large- own decision-making, or Europe as we participation beyond elections. scale, stand-alone, and pre-framed know it might soon be over. Such an environment may generate deliberation exercise, such as the

9 DEMOCRACY AND IMMIGRATION — CULTURE OF FEAR

The impact of immigration and the Feeling threatened, people start to recent refugee crisis have together consider safety as an urgent priority. contributed to the rise of far-right More importantly, they start to move parties in Europe, which in turn poses away from long-championed European a serious threat to the health of values of freedom and democracy. democracy on the continent. In my view, it can be argued that controlling migration will be good Democracy depends on trust for democracy. At the same time, we amongst citizens, enabling them to cannot ignore the fact that migrants work collectively as part of a political have the potential to positively system. In 2013, Europe and other influence the revival and development RABEE ALREFAI countries in the world experienced of democratic values not only in an unprecedented increase in the Europe, but also in their homelands number of refugees and asylum if they return with the experience of seekers. This consequently having lived in democratic societies. led to European citizens being Rabee Alrefai is originally from politically divided in a manner We can improve democracy by Daraa, Syria where he trained previously unseen. working on aspects that contribute to and worked as a doctor until a positive future. A good future is one 1 2014. Due to the civil war, Alrefai It is well-documented that most in which people feel safe again and left Syria in 2015 and settled in migrants and refugees come from embrace their values. A good future is Austria, earning recognition for his countries governed by dictators, and also one that makes migrants believe that the majority of them are Muslim. medical diploma at the University that democracy is the solution to the This fact has been exploited by of Vienna. Alrefai has written a very problems that forced them to right-wing parties to gain votes and screenplay for the film ‘When it leave their countries in the first place. reach positions of power in different Rains in Vienna’, which begins countries across Europe. These Promoting migrant participation in production in 2019. parties routinely arouse public fear political life is of utmost importance. about the supposed threat posed by Enabling migrants and refugees to be newcomers to EU culture, economy, part of decision-making is the first step and security.

10 towards their integration. The chance Schools that teach children that Migrants and refugees together with to speak for themselves – a sentiment they have equal rights and duties politicians and political parties that that most of them miss – will make in society, regardless of their race, believe in democracy should use this group believe that they are part of gender, or religion will contribute to social media to fight deception and their new society. It will also motivate raising enlightened citizens. Teaching fear by sharing with European citizens them to play their part in protecting children how democracy led, in my facts about who they are, what they the values and the safety of their new opinion, to Europe being the most want, why they migrated to their new homelands, or that of their children. successful continent in the world countries, and how they perceive the will make them future guardians of future. This requires major effort and democracy and freedom. support, but it is undoubtedly a way of bringing together people from both We cannot ignore the It is well-known that fascism, sides and letting them discuss issues communism, and religious extremism that they are worried about, instead fact that migrants have are the enemies of democracy. In of fueling the venomous rhetoric of the digital age that we are living in, right-wing politicians. the potential to positively some politicians have become the most dangerous threats to the health Migration has been and will always influence the revival of democracy. Social media allows continue to be a momentous and development of these politicians to communicate challenge. Europe should know that directly with their voters. However, every human being in this world democratic values not instead of using this opportunity to sees this continent as the birthplace enhance citizen engagement, those and protector of human rights and only in Europe, but also very politicians use social media to democratic values. If European citizens undermine democracy by indulging are to move away from democracy, in their homelands if in the politics of lies and fear, thereby they will need to think of another they return with the arousing public anger. name for Europe. experience of having lived in democratic societies.

1 For instance: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20170629STO78630/eu-migrant-crisis-facts-and-figures.

11 A DIGITAL BACKBONE FOR A CITIZENS’ EUROPE

We find ourselves in the midst constitutional states and to make of a digital revolution and the them more efficient. And these are rate of upheaval is accelerating. the very issues we must emphasise Technological progress is happening more strongly within the Open so quickly that political actors Government Partnership. genuinely struggle to shape it or to even keep pace. Representatives of To start with, we must explore the authoritarian regimes, in particular, areas in which digitalisation can have pitied the slowness of our help increase public trust in the political system, which – they state’s capabilities. Currently, it is claim – deprives us of many, if almost exclusively corporations that DOROTHEE BÄR not all, avenues for remaining are building entire digital empires and setting the benchmark for the @DoroBaer internationally competitive. possibilities of digital technologies. This discussion deals with two Numerous goods and services can distinct issues. On the one hand, it is now be ordered in a single tap on a about economic and technological smartphone. The state is also a digital Dorothee Bär is Minister of leadership in the digital age. On service provider: applying for child State at the Federal Chancellery the other, it is about the political and parental benefits, registering a and Federal Government supremacy of rivalling systems. Of new business, or changing your home Commissioner for Digital Affairs of course, the two elements are linked: address are all possible online. These the Government of Germany. brings political tasks ought to be as easy as ordering She has been a Member of the influence. A perfectly conceived a toothbrush online. There is untapped German Parliament since 2002, political system that fails to prove potential to significantly improve and held positions including or assert itself on the contested efficiency and provide added value to international stage will die a citizens and businesses who would no Parliamentary State Secretary at virtuous death. longer need to wait for appointments the Federal Ministry of Transport in the long corridors of government and Digital Infrastructure, and Europe has a clear mission in this agencies. We need a single digital Deputy Secretary General regard. We are committed to policies gateway: a unified access point for of the CSU. that revolve around the best interests administrative services. We need fully of individuals, not those of large digitalised application processes. corporations or the state. In Germany, we are working hard to achieve this. Studies show that a Europe must harness the possibilities well-functioning digital administration of digitalisation. We must understand improves citizens’ perception of the that digitalisation is a potent tool – it state by a factor of ten.1 We must use is neither inherently good nor bad. It that to our advantage. all depends on why digital tools are being employed. We must harness the Secondly, we must ensure that digital opportunities of digitalisation in order technologies reinforce our values to bring out the best in our democratic rather than undermine them. Take

12 artificial intelligence, for example. Europe must now also standards. An important step in the We cannot afford to lose control of right direction is a more transparent decisions that affect our citizens. be a pioneer for the policy-making process. It is crucial Principles such as protection for for draft legislation and trade minorities, gender equality, advocacy digital age, not only in associations’ opinions, for example, to for the socially disadvantaged, and be publicly available. In so doing, we equal consideration for urban and terms of economy and can strengthen trust in the democratic rural areas must be imprinted in the technology, but also in processes that shape public opinion. DNA of any artificial intelligence. That Whenever possible, we must is precisely what “AI made in Europe” protecting the rights pre-emptively deflate fake news and ought to stand for. This is also why conspiracy theories. Germany appointed a Data Ethics and interests of citizens. Commission to examine the ethical These examples demonstrate that scope and constraints of digital data Europe must be a role the pressure on our rule-of-law- management. Digitalisation does not model and a force based democratic states within the mean betraying our values in favour of competitive international landscape technical possibilities. On the contrary, for unity. has not been caused by digitalisation technology must be deployed to itself, but by our slowness to take its reinforce European values in the tools into our own hands. digital age. by storm early warning systems. When Europe has always been ahead of dealing with personal data, a person’s the curve. Europe must now also be Thirdly, we must harness the sovereignty over their own data a pioneer for the digital age, not only potential of Open Data even more inevitably takes priority. In many cases, in terms of economy and technology, extensively. Data is the raw material however, it suffices to use completely but also in protecting the rights and of digitalisation. In the global playing anonymised data. Consider the interests of citizens. Europe must be field, we should make it much easier possibilities for AI-assisted medical a role model and a force for unity. In for our companies to draw on data diagnostics via millions of radiological the digital age, more so than ever, size that has already been compiled by the scans to identify the tell-tale matters. To that end, we will need new state and develop business models symptoms of diseases. The benefit to global alliances. The EU is only the and applications that benefit citizens. individual patient health care would start. The tools for “digitalisation made Take, for example, state-gathered be staggering. weather data. This is now publicly in Europe” have long been in place. available and is used pro-actively by At the same time, however, we Let us come together and take them winter gritting and salting services and must not let corporations dominate into our own hands! A virtuous death is political discourse or let them set the not an option.

1 McKinsey (June 2018) „Der Bürger im Mittelpunkt: Mehr Vertrauen in Behörden durch ein besseres Bürgererlebnisitel“. https://www.mckinsey.de/publikationen/buergerzufriedenheit-zufriedenheit-schafft-vertrauen.

13 DEMOCRACY IS A COSTLY GIFT, ONE THAT MUST BE CONSTANTLY DEVELOPED

Only through bloodshed and To begin with, we need to identify numerous conflicts have we come to the different layers of democracy a point where we, within the European within which these problems lie and Union (EU), can live in peaceful reorganise some of our democratic democracies in which we are allowed, processes. To successfully face the even encouraged, to speak freely. global challenges facing us – be them This point is in fact laid out in Article climate change, terrorism, migration, Two of the Lisbon Treaty.1 and other issues of similar magnitude – our decision-making processes must Never before have people enjoyed as move beyond consensus to majority much freedom. On average, Europe is on the EU level. The same applies for CHRISTINE BOSSE also as rich as it has ever been. What all institutional bodies involved. is new and what remains to be fixed? @BosseStine This does not mean that citizens will First and foremost, social media be left out of the decision-making constantly bombards us with news process. On the contrary, we must and opinions, whilst providing us with ensure that there are channels Christine Bosse is Chairman of a sense of proximity to our decision available to citizens to become European Movement Denmark, makers. At the same time, however, it well-informed and get as involved with 13 years of executive feels as if the same decision makers in decision-making as possible. This experience and 25 years of do not care about the challenges can happen through openness and professional board experience. people face. The problem lies in transparency in the debates leading the fact that everything moves very She is also a board member at up to major decisions and in the quickly and that politicians cannot European Movement International voting process itself. The Council of provide us with a sense of security nor and a member of the European Ministers, for example, would be a the knowledge to solve our problems. good place to start. Fearing that this Council on Foreign Relations. Worse yet, there is less time for could lead to populism only results in debate or the involvement of citizens more fake news and blame games, in troubleshooting our democracies. and further disillusionment about the value of democracy. The ‘slow cooking’ model of democratic processes, as we have known it, simply no longer meets the current needs and expectations of citizens with their problems and worries. What can be done to remedy this?

14 How can any of us The traditional democratic model should we educate our children, but only makes sense if politicians remain also ourselves as adults. We can decide on anything if involved, take the occasionally take advantage of new technologies demanding democratic processes to facilitate life-long learning, and we are not sure about seriously, and if the motivation of perhaps even make a “democracy far-right politicians to question these driver’s license” a mandatory feature the facts? This is processes is scarce. It is sometimes for participating in democratic where education and convenient to blame others, with processes, all the while not leaving Brexit being the most serious and people with special needs behind. an independent media devastating example. Some of these ideas might seem become crucial. The demand, therefore, has to come bold. But let us not forget that we from us: the people. We should be live in times where bold attempts to curious to know how our democracy disrupt the people-driven democracy For good reasons, or maybe due works. We should also be curious that we have developed are both to convention, the implementation enough to corroborate stories and numerous and well-funded. We processes of EU rules are very make sure that we are not fooled by need to be aware, alert, and on the different in each member state. It fake news – which is amongst the offensive to protect our freedom and would be interesting to see if any of most serious threats – not letting our democracies. the implementation models result in us decide our own destiny. How can more or less citizen engagement, and, any of us decide on anything if we as a consequence, if changes can be are not sure about the facts? This is made to incorporate learnings. where education and an independent media become crucial. Not only

1 The Treaty of Lisbon, Article 2: “The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail.”

15 REBUILDING TRUST — BRICK BY BRICK

For 19 years now, Edelman has been This growing divide of trust across measuring the currency of trust the EU is the result of a multitude through the annual Trust Barometer of events at both macro and micro Survey. This year our survey once level. However, the reality of the again examined the state of trust financial crisis of the late 2000’s in the four key institutions of state and the challenges of dealing with – government, NGOs, media, and it, coupled with the ease of access business – in 27 different markets. to information through social media In Europe, this meant undertaking and the availability of phones, research in the Netherlands, France, has compounded the problem. Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Spain – Furthermore, a feeling of “not being GURPREET BRAR a representative sample of European listened to” and “being taken for @gurps82 Union (EU) member states. We also granted” has, in some member states, examined the U.K., but as a result of become commonplace. According the ongoing debate around Brexit, our to the Edelman Trust Barometer, this EU data excluded U.K.-specific data. has meant, that the number of EU workers who believe the system is Gurpreet Brar is General Manager The clear output from our research therefore “failing them” has risen of the Edelman Brussels office and shows that there continues to be a sharply (Informed public 41%; General bring together over fifteen years of crisis of trust. Institutions, that were population 57%) and has impacted UK and EU experience of politics, for many decades seen to be the trust across both our society and our government affairs and regulation. answer to citizens’ problems, are institutions. The evidence for this Over the years, Brar has helped now struggling to establish the trust can be seen in Brexit as well as in some of the world’s largest and credibility citizens are looking the rise in votes for those previously companies establish lasting for. This trend is even more stark considered marginal political forces. when we divide the population relationships with policymakers, between the informed public1 and Against this backdrop, where are the has worked with clients to the general population,2 which opportunities for a fightback? manage through political crisis shows a continued substantial trust and has developed innovative gap (2019: 12 percent) in the average thought leadership and purpose trust in NGOs, government, business advocacy platforms. and media.

16 Making a difference in the lives of EU citizens, and then proactively claiming ownership for doing so, will be fundamental in ensuring trust is being rebuilt.

If the health of trust in EU countries is will therefore need to be creative, looking for leadership: leadership to be restored, or even reinvigorated, digital, digestible, engaging, and on the future of work/employment, then I would say there are three shareable – not an easy feat! the future of our planet/climate, the areas of focus that should be taken future of immigration/migration, and extremely seriously by decision Second, there is a strong need to the future of what all of this means makers across the EU in business, build consensus and bring together for us. Faced with such challenges, NGOs, the institutions, and politics. core constituencies. The need for people now look to their leaders to co-creation has never been stronger. tackle these future challenges and The first, simply put, is The 2019 Trust Barometer highlights chart out a vision of what is to come “communication, communication, the trust between employees and and their role within it. To rebuild trust, communication.” Until recently, their employers – a relationship which we must therefore be brave enough there had been some reticence to has unparalleled levels of trust with to speak about the future, whilst also communicate loudly and proudly for 70% of respondents trusting their articulating how it will impact people’s actions taken and impacts achieved. employer (NGOs 49%; business 50%; lives and those of their families. To rebuild trust, I would argue you government 39%; media 42%). This Making a difference in the lives of need to do exactly this. In a world necessitates that decision-making EU citizens, and then proactively where information is currency, the be inclusive. Creating shared value, claiming ownership for doing so, will need to communicate directly whether action, and purpose will in turn drive be fundamental in ensuring trust is you are a business, an institution, an better outcomes. Whether it be around being rebuilt. NGO, the media, or an individual has policy, societal change, or business never been stronger. Be ready to tell growth co-creation should be seen as your story or be ready for it to be told a core element to rebuilding trust. by others. However, communication alone will not be enough as you will Finally, be brave in defining the also have to earn the right to be heard future. At a time when the world is in a crowded landscape. Your content transforming around us, people are

1 Informed Public: Represents 16% of total global population and must meet 4 criteria: Ages 25-64; College-educated; In top 25% of household income per age group in each market; Report significant media consumption and engagement in public policy and business news. 2 Mass Population: All population not including informed public and represents 84% of total global population.

17 DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL: THE NEED FOR A NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT

Today’s world: in the midst of a Tomorrow’s world: a digital society digital revolution Digital technologies are evolving at an Since the invention of the printing accelerated rate. These technologies press, the relationship between have become pervasive across society, governments, administrations, and disrupting both public and private citizens has been paper-based, sectors. This digital transformation of characterised by static, standardised research, industry, and government interfaces. Extraction and processing is gathering pace. Digitalisation has of data in print was cumbersome and become a common global political error-prone. Sharing and reuse of priority. In particular, there is a shared MÁRIO CAMPOLARGO information was virtually unheard of. realisation that digital technologies Administrative ‘silos’ were the norm. will shape new governance structures @mariocampolargo When the first general purpose digital facilitating citizen and business computers arrived seventy years ago, participation in policy making, adding few predicted their impact on daily life. value to interactions and influencing

Mário Campolargo is Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate- The transformative impact of digital technologies General for Informatics. He is one of the main contributors to the on our daily life implies the need for a new social Digital Transformation of Public charter between the state and its citizens. Administrations. Previously he was a director responsible for advanced ICT research. Information and communication new patterns of coordination and technologies – machines, networks, cooperation within and across public algorithms – have revolutionised administrations. In short, a digital the way we generate, manage, society is being created. and share data. New information- based industries have emerged. The digital society will see increased Governments and citizens cooperate digital disruption, the rise of the data via digital ‘forms’ with dynamic, economy, an evolution to data-driven personalised two-way interfaces. administration, and an emphasis on We can now tackle previously data security. This fundamental role unsolvable societal problems through of data is now recognised as key to information sharing and collaborative delivering better evidence-based work practices. However, this digital policies and the next generation of revolution has only just begun! trusted cross-border digital public

18 services. These services should be A social contract for a digital Europe An EU data policy and coordinated user-centric, built on the principles of national data policies, both based openness, transparency, reusability Actions unleashing the potential on the European Interoperability and designed for security, privacy, and of digital technologies for Europe’s Framework (EIF), should complement interoperability. citizens whilst guaranteeing their this social contract and become an rights have been initiated by the EU-wide information management Democracy and digital European Commission with its framework to address the information Digital Single Market flagship priority issues linked to the cross-border This new digital society is also and legislative initiatives, including needs of citizens and businesses and changing the way democracy the adoption of the General Data the global multidisciplinary challenges functions. Issues that transcend Protection Regulation (GDPR). of our time including climate change, the digital technologies per se now trade, terrorism, and civil rights. preoccupy politicians, legislators, These are, however, only the first policy makers, and the public. steps on the journey to a digital A shared challenge While existing digital platforms Europe that involves nothing less and a select number of companies than the digitalisation of democracy, The digital age calls for the reinvention dominating specific industries offer together with democratic control of our democratic institutions and new and seductive opportunities for of the digital industry without democratic processes; in Europe, we customers and third parties, they also stifling innovation. will do this as a tangible expression have a disruptive dimension, which of our values. The involvement of undermines the social cohesion Frictionless interfaces mediated by civil society through more effective of communities. digital technologies will add value participatory processes needs to gain to purpose-driven interactions further traction by the adoption of Issues relating to the ethics, between citizens, administrations, Responsible Research and Innovation transparency, openness, and and governments and consolidate (RRI) approaches. The public sector IT inclusivity of these digital ecosystems democracy in the digital age. community across Europe is ready for need to be addressed. These include: this challenge. Now is the moment for This transformative impact of digital the use of personal and sensitive the European institutions to reinforce technologies on our daily life implies data; dissemination of fake news; their work with the member states the need for a new social charter disinformation and hate propaganda; and the innovative digital ecosystems between the state and its citizens cyberattacks on critical cyber-physical towards a charter of social and ethical – one that is fit for purpose for the infrastructures (electrical, water, health values that will shape a digital Europe digital age. Data should be central and government systems); and the and provide the impetus for a more to such a social contract. Digital role of artificial intelligence in new just global digital society. applications. Guidelines and technical rights should cover the generation best practices are necessary but of data, its management, use and insufficient. Legislation and regulations reuse, protection and preservation. to curb the excessive power of some Its adoption would ensure the Disclaimer: The views expressed in this text are solely those of the author and do hegemonic players needs to be trustworthiness of digital public not necessarily represent the official views enacted and enforced. services and increase trust in the digital ecosystems underpinning daily life. of the European Commission.

19 THE WRONG INDICATOR

Underground rivers of money fed Pockets of institutional independence by corruption are one of our world’s in Malta that had survived four years deadliest flaws. The same networks of populism were quashed. A powerful that allow us to move capital around donor to the governing Labour Party Europe allow the produce and filed 19 lawsuits at one go against her, proceeds of crime to flow just as one for every sentence in an article seamlessly. All the while, justice she published about his holiday in and law enforcement remain largely the company of a senior tax official. ineffective and are being steadily The prime minister, Joseph Muscat, undermined and captured. Journalists secretly plotted with the owner of attempting to document this are a company that sells our country’s MATTHEW CARUANA GALIZIA intimidated, locked up, and murdered. passports to bankrupt her by suing 1 @mcaruanagalizia for libel in English courts. “They’re If our institutions want to rebuild trust, trying to fry me alive”, our mother said they should fix this deadly flaw – a to us. And she, a beacon of hope and source of huge injustice and inequality. courage for hundreds of thousands, Populist leaders who explicitly target was executed in broad daylight. Matthew Caruana Galizia is a journalists are bad, but they are only journalist and software engineer. degrees away from those leaders who Robbing Malta of its most trusted He has has worked with the do nothing to overhaul the system that journalist has perversely centralised International Consortium of facilitates global crime and corruption, trust in the hands of the powerful Investigative Journalists on and who ask journalists to continue people she wrote about. This is why, investigations into international running straight into the artillery fire. wherever liberal democracy and the corruption and on the technology And yet, while making this unbearable rule of law are crumbling, trust is the used to fight it. sacrifice, these journalists have wrong indicator to look at. In 2018, taught us powerful lessons about how Malta fell the furthest in press-freedom to respond. rankings in Europe. The country also slipped in democracy rankings and One of these journalists was our rule of law indicators and leads the mother, Daphne Caruana Galizia. She field in hate speech. Yet, people still was assassinated in Malta on October rally behind, and trust, the political 16, 2017, when a bomb placed under leaders who could be implicated in the the driver’s seat of her car exploded murder of our mother. They still trust as she rushed to the bank where a police force that, on paper alone, is her account had been frozen by the probably Europe’s most ineffective, country’s economy minister. It was the with an astonishing 90 per cent of all last in a string of attacks she endured murders over the past decade not for uncovering a web of corruption resulting in a conviction.2 linking major multinational deals, passport sales, and a sophisticated How can we fight back against global money-laundering operation. this theft of trust? Investigative She tugged on the threads until journalists have banded together they brought the full force of Malta’s in global networks such as the government crashing down on her. Daphne Project.3 They show just how

20 effective investigative journalism can When journalists come under The answer to their menace is not be in forcing greater transparency, attack, it usually means that the to identify ourselves in relation to undermining criminal networks, societies within which they operate populists. If we do that, we only and driving up the cost of political are so corrupt that their principal become the enemies that they want. corruption for its perpetrators. law-enforcement institutions and The answer lies instead in looking democratic checks have already been at what props them up: invariably, But while journalists increasingly fundamentally compromised. This money laundering and corruption. cooperate across borders, national makes investigative reporters the last These are the same tools that law-enforcement authorities are still people left standing between the rule organised criminals and kleptocrats living in the past. As a result, the of law and those who seek to violate use to hoover up weaker jurisdictions impact of investigative journalism it. It makes their work both more like Malta into their service. The varies widely by country. Where dangerous and less effective. right response to this is to create

Unless we respond forcefully, our collective future will belong to an alliance of dark money, populism, and the sort of mistrust and division that robbed Europe of someone who did things that mattered.

new entities designed to address law-enforcement authorities are Worst of all, the message sent by transnational crime. The launch of independent from the central powerful, populist politicians is this: the European Public Prosecutor’s government and private interests, these journalists are your enemies Office is a start, but it must be and where the public can channel and we will destroy them on your coupled with a European anti-money grievances effectively through behalf. When they achieve that goal, laundering agency. responsive political institutions, they then end up earning more trust investigative reporting can have an from a brutalised public. This is what Unless we respond forcefully, our immediate impact on preventing our mother meant when she said in a collective future will belong to an corruption and state capture. This private interview 10 days before her alliance of dark money, populism, and builds trust in both reporting and the murder, that she had been turned into the sort of mistrust and division that institutions of a liberal democracy. a “national scapegoat”, blamed for robbed Europe of someone who did the effects of the very problems that things that mattered. she exposed.

1 https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2017/05/prime-minister-chief-staff-use-josephmuscat-com-addresses-deal-secretly- henley-partners-chairman-addresses-keith-joseph-order/ and http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-06-01/local-news/ Henley-confirms-emails-revealed-by-Daphne-Caruana-Galizia-denies-collusion-6736174975. 2 https://lovinmalta.com/news/local/70-murder-victims-since-2008-just-7-people-have-been-found-guilty-of-homicide-in-malta-in-the-last-10-years. 3 https://forbiddenstories.org/case/the-daphne-project/.

21 LOOKING FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

For the past six months, Swedish There appears to be an important climate activist Greta Thunberg has gap between scientists’ warnings been striking in front of the house of on climate change and the passivity representatives in Sweden. She is and lack of action on the part of requesting political leaders to respect politicians. This is a source of worry their international commitments to for younger generations. According reduce CO2 emissions in order to to the , we have limit the greenhouse effect warming a short window of opportunity of our planet. Greta has inspired many ten to twelve years before facing youth in Belgium, , the irreversible climate change. This is Netherlands, the UK, and Germany a very short period and we need to ADÉLAÏDE CHARLIER to start protesting for action against act now. However, we are very far @adelaidecharli2 climate change. Her actions from concrete action, and despite adelaidecha culminated in the March 15th global the latest IPCC (Intergovernmental strike for climate which gathered 1,4 Panel on Climate Change) report million people in 125 countries – the re-emphasising the magnitude and largest ever environmental protest. the impact of global warming, we seem to be continuing with business Adélaïde Charlier is currently In Belgium, students have been as usual. My country, Belgium, is one studying at Notre Dame College striking and demonstrating every of the worst European offenders in Namur, Belgium. Charlier is Thursday since January 2019 to ask in terms of the 2030 climate goals. an active member of Amnesty political leaders to take both scientists According to a recent EU report,1 International and the Youth and climate change seriously. Indeed, without additional measures, Belgium Council of the City of Namur. scientists have constantly been will miss its 2020 and 2030 targets. If Inspired by Greta Thunberg, repeating, with increasing certitude implemented, the current plans would and precision over the past two Charlier created the Belgian reduce our emissions by 0.9 MT / decades, that global warming is real ‘Youth for Climate’ movement year, but to achieve decarbonisation and that it is related to human activity. along with Anuna De Wever in in 2050, we would need to reduce our emissions from 3.7 to 5.1 MT / year or January 2019. at least quadruple the pace.

22 Democracy is not only about elections but also to be global in order to be efficient. Some argue Europe would have to about elected leaders who listen to the voice of the act first. This is indeed one of the complexities of climate change. While people and are accountable to them. More citizen Northern Hemisphere countries are responsible for about 80% of the engagement in public policy and a reduction in the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, gap between elected leaders and their constituents the consequences of global warming (floods, typhoons, draughts, etc.) are is part of the solution. disproportionately felt in the Southern Hemisphere which emits less CO2. Additionally, the Southern Hemisphere While some actions are being taken, Long-term benefits are not valued. will not be able to develop on cheap they are far from sufficient to meet our Transitioning to a zero emission fossil fuels. This is clearly a matter of objectives. Rather than taking action, society might not be visible or tangible climate justice which cannot be easily political leaders seem to be counting enough and may even entail risks that sold to western constituencies. more on protest fatigue on the part politicians might not be willing to take. of the youth than on addressing their Our democratic system is designed Is this gap a question for our demands. Why is that? in a way that expects today’s political democratic system? I do not think so. leaders to take decisions which will The current gap between political Firstly, a lot of European political impact the future generation at the leaders and youth protests for climate leaders did not expect climate cost of the current one. To address change is instead a symptom of too change to be at the centre of election this issue, some suggest establishing much distance between leaders and campaigns. Most of the political a parliament of future generations. their constituents. We probably need parties are simply not technically This second chamber would have more democracy than less. Indeed, prepared for that debate. to incorporate younger generations, democracy is not only about elections who would in turn have a voice but also about elected leaders who Secondly, moving towards a zero on any long-term decisions that a listen to the voice of the people and emission society is a long-term government takes. are accountable to them. More citizen transition that goes beyond the engagement in public policy and a usual political mandate (one or two A third possible reason that could reduction in the gap between elected legislatures). In our democratic system, render political action on climate leaders and their constituents is part quick wins or medium-term impact change difficult is that actions have of the solution. remains necessary to be re-elected.

1 Cited in "Le Soir", 5/3/2019 Edition.

23 IS INCLUSIVE, RESPONSIVE, AND ACCOUNTABLE OPEN GOVERNMENT ENOUGH?

How is it possible that, after of vaccination; and social – (over) two centuries of successfully protective parenting on account of fighting infectious diseases, many low and late fertility, with medical well-educated people question the authorities losing their authority and usefulness of vaccines, asks Andrea not adapting their tactics to address Grignolio in his book Vaccines: Are people’s fears. The descent of They Worth a Shot? 1 The same applies European democracies in turn has to democracy: how is it possible seen people becoming less of citizens that, after two centuries of building and more of consumers. Bombarded modern democratic institutions, so with false information about migrants, many well-educated people doubt nationalism has strengthened due to TINA DIVJAK its usefulness? This analogy is not a the feeling that those in power have coincidence. Over the past 40 years, betrayed their own people in favour democracy and public health have of immigrants and Muslims. Wrongful, shared similar trends. In the 1980s, damaging decisions by social- right-wing populism and infectious democratic politicians during the 2008 Tina Divjak is the head of diseases appeared to be eradicated. economic crisis have further eroded advocacy at CNVOS, a national The rate of vaccination against trust in democracy. CSO umbrella network in measles, mumps, and rubella was over Slovenia. She has been working 95% while populist radical right parties Can our democracy be cured through on different issues of NGO were polling at about 1% in Europe. inclusive, responsive, and accountable development since 2003. She has Today, the situation is both reversed open government approaches? It authored and co-authored several and dangerous. The opposition to goes without saying that transparent, analyses, studies and manuals vaccination poses a serious threat inclusive policy making and focusing on public participation in to public health, whereas right-wing governance are absolutely better than their non-transparent and non-inclusive Slovenia and abroad. In 2018, she populism, which is in full swing since counterparts. At the same time, open authored the study “The future the refugee crisis of 2015, threatens and inclusive approaches should evolution of civil society in the our democracy. not be overestimated. I often hear European Union by 2030.” The similarity does not end here. that if people were more involved in Specific to vaccination, Grignolio finds decision-making, they would trust that there are three main reasons it more, accordingly strengthening for doubting it: ideological – liberals the authority of the institutions that avoid individual risks over collective implement those decisions. I am rationality and accountability; not entirely convinced that this is informational – an abundance of true. Do people feel alienated by information, albeit false, on the risks public institutions because of their

24 However, we must not forget that procedures, no matter how rational, cannot ensure an equitable society; only collective political engagement can do so. inaccessibility, or are they primarily is that this assumption can only hold consumers – an aspect that is linked dissatisfied with the decisions that true when power is a completely to the vulnerability of democracies. are being taken? In Slovenia, opinion rational machine, capable of neutrally polls constantly show high levels of coordinating various social interests. All of this of course does not distrust in politics and its institutions. Based on this assumption, power mean that it is wrong to insist that Only 14% of people trust politicians should be unideological, strictly governments be inclusive, transparent, while 36% trust the parliament. Political pragmatic, and steeped in common and accountable. In fact, we need alienation can be considered a matter sense. History, however, has taught to be even more determined in this of universal consensus. But is it us that the very power that claims to regard. However, we must not forget justified? The Slovenian Parliament has be unideological is always the most that procedures, no matter how 90 Members. In 2011, 55 newcomers ideological one. Let us recall the rational, cannot ensure an equitable sat in it, 64 in 2014, and 54 in 2018. The third way style of politics. Outwardly society; only collective political last five governments were led by five the flagship of unideological engagement can do so. Democracy different prime ministers. The last three post-politics, it is now clear that it was will not be healed with less ideology were newcomers in state-level politics, far more consequential in cementing and more evidence-based and as were their newly-established the hold of neoliberalism than inclusive decision making. On the parties. It would be difficult to claim for Thatcher’s efforts. contrary, it needs more evidence- our politicians to be alienated from the based, inclusive approaches but people, when the majority of them are Another problem is that the model of also – more ideology! This is why, it clearly “one of us”. inclusive government inevitably lends is not enough to open up institutions to political lethargy: Why should we and empower civil society. Collective This is why I believe that more be politically engaged when wise (political) mobilisation and action inclusive and transparent approaches governance can be provided by on the part of people via the joining cannot in themselves restore trust already appropriate processes? It is and establishing of political parties in institutions. Unless we believe enough to communicate one’s will needs to be encouraged. Right-wing that open and inclusive decision- from the comfort of the armchair and it populism can only be defeated in making necessarily leads to the will be taken into account. This is not elections – and this is possible only right decisions. It is a premise which only completely illusionary, but also in if people firmly support the ideas is somewhat inherent in the open perfect harmony with neoliberal efforts of egalitarianism, social justice, and government agenda. The problem to transform citizens into (individualist) liberal democracy.

1 Grignolio, A. (2018). Vaccines: Are they Worth a Shot?. Springer.

25 WHAT IT TAKES TO REBUILD TRUST IN INSTITUTIONS

As European Commissioner for Trust brings a development dividend. Humanitarian Aid, I travelled to Haiti Countries that have low levels of trust in the aftermath of the devastating also have lower levels of investment 2010 earthquake. Over 200,000 and, consequently, lower rates of people lost their lives and a large growth. This should not surprise part of Haiti’s vital infrastructure was us. When trust in institutions is low, destroyed along with homes and people are forced to find informal businesses. No matter where I went ways of settling disputes, women during my visit, the people of Haiti had are less likely to report harassment the same message: they told me that or domestic violence, and firms are the European Commission should not less likely to pay taxes or follow KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA give any money to their government environmental regulations. @KGeorgieva because it would be stolen. Conversely, when trust is higher, kristalina.georgieva At the end of my visit, I concluded behaviour becomes more /KristalinaGeorgieva that the destruction caused by the constructive. People are more willing earthquake reflected a deeper to use financial intermediaries that problem. I was convinced that the help them save and leverage their legacy of misrule under Papa Doc and money. These intermediaries are Kristalina Georgieva is the Chief Baby Doc presented an even greater in turn more likely to do business Executive Officer for the World challenge for Haiti. Weak institutions with strangers and to set up firms, Bank. Previously, Georgieva and pervasive corruption meant that helping them specialise and achieve helped shape the agenda of Haiti was more vulnerable when economies of scale. They are also the European Union, first as disaster struck, and ill-equipped to more willing to invest in research and Commissioner for International recover in the aftermath. development, which in turn contributes to greater innovation. Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid As CEO of the World Bank, I am and Crisis Response and later as committed to our goals of eliminating The same applies to factors that Vice President for Budget and poverty and boosting shared contribute to poverty reduction. Human Resources. prosperity. Achieving these goals Gender equality, environmental is not just a matter of money, it also protection, domestic revenue depends on human capital, policies for mobilisation – all of these depend on inclusive growth, and tapping into new trust. Institutions and trust go hand ideas. Success meanwhile depends in hand, each can either reinforce or on effective institutions and broad- undermine the other. Just as we need based governance. to understand how to strengthen institutions, we must also understand While few countries endure the factors that weaken trust. conditions as tough as those in Haiti, many face a crisis of trust. We therefore need to consider how development goals can be achieved when faith in institutions is low.

26 Amongst the most harmful factors Studies show that regulatory Initiative (EITI), as well as the Open are corruption, inequality, lack of compliance goes up when there has Government Partnership (OGP). transparency, and exclusion. When been transparency during the process corruption makes institutions unfair, of developing regulations and when Ensuring that countries can deliver people’s belief in those institutions those most affected have had an core services is another key factor. diminishes. Inequality weakens trust, opportunity to participate and provide The current Innovations in Tax especially when it is seen as the result input. Our project on measuring Global Compliance project combines of an uneven playing field. When Indicators of Regulatory Governance investments in enforcement, people have no say in policy-making is exploring how governments facilitation, and trust in tax systems, all or do not find it transparent, they feel interact with the public when shaping conceived within a broader strategy to excluded and begin to question the regulations that affect businesses confront political barriers to reform and fairness of the process. and people. It covers issues such as strengthen fiscal contracts. In focusing the publishing of draft regulations for on fairness, equity, reciprocity, Because institutions and trust are comments and whether people can and accountability, this pragmatic intertwined, a vicious circle can access all the laws and regulations approach aims to turn the vicious emerge. For example, a lack of faith currently in force. circle virtuous.

In these uncertain times, where there is concern about shrinking civic space and the future of fair participation in political and economic decision making, we at the World Bank Group see a need to focus on the fundamentals: building institutions based on transparency and participation, an agenda we hope Europe will continue to lead.

in the process of developing public Transparency is critical to building In these uncertain times, where policies can lead to people losing trust, both through expanding access there is concern about shrinking trust and opting out, thereby robbing to information and strengthening civic space and the future of fair the resulting policy of the input which public participation. Transparency is participation in political and economic would have made it better. the key objective of long-standing decision making, we at the World initiatives that the World Bank Bank Group see a need to focus Are there ways to strengthen trust in supports across several major sectors, on the fundamentals: building societies? And, if we find ways to halt including the Global Partnership for institutions based on transparency corrosive processes, can we turn the Social Accountability (GPSA), the and participation, an agenda we hope vicious circle into a virtuous circle? At Public Expenditure and Financial Europe will continue to lead. These the World Bank Group, we believe the Accountability (PEFA) framework, and are the foundations for openness and answer is yes. the Extractive Industries Transparency multilateralism in Europe and across the broader international community.

27 RESTORING RESILIENCE: SOME THOUGHTS ON CURRENT CHALLENGES FACED BY EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS TO THEM

Challenges undermining the again, our democracy is vulnerable resilience of our democracies: to the lure of simple and aggressive a European perspective answers to society’s problems. Its resilience is undermined by When speaking of the threats to authoritarian tendencies both inside st our democracies in the 21 century, and outside the European Union it is important to clearly identify (EU). Authoritarians see robust which aspects of democracy are multilateral systems, such as the under attack. From a European EU, as an obstacle to consolidating perspective, the most threatened their power around a national base. aspect of democracy is its liberal This in turn explains the increased MARIA GOLUBEVA character. As pointed out a frequency and vigour with which the few decades ago by Giovanni @MGolubeva_LV EU is attacked as enfeebled, distant 1 Sartori, what we call democracy from the concerns of the masses, and in the western world is in reality decadently globalist. liberal democracy, as its historic development has been inextricably Media reports concerning Russian Maria Golubeva is a member of the linked to the understanding of state sponsorship of right-wing Latvian Parliament for the liberal individual rights that have to be populist leaders in Europe suggest party Development/For!. She was protected by the state, to the that Vladimir Putin’s administration previously Development Director separation of powers, and to the rule places considerable support with of the think-tank PROVIDUS, of law. When democratically elected forces pitting the populations of and a senior consultant with ICF politicians exhibit authoritarian EU countries against ‘Brussels’. in Brussels, leading research leanings, or when the media calls Within Europe, populists with a projects on European education for limiting the rights of persons pronounced authoritarian bend – holding minority views, be it on claiming to have mandate from the and humanitarian policies. Brexit or on immigration, democracy people that supersedes that of their is under threat, even if the majority opponents – capture the attention of the population temporarily see no of the media by what is framed as reason to worry. bold and unconventional critique of the establishment or global elites. Given that democratic countries all The word ‘Brussels’ itself is, in this over the world are facing profound context, an ideological shorthand changes related to labour markets, for what is assumed to be the demographics, and climate change, bureaucratic and inscrutable power answers provided by mainstream of the EU institutions. While not all politics are not always adequate and critique of EU bureaucracy should be are often incomprehensible. Once dismissed out of hand, it is important

28 to identify manipulative strains in its Maintaining the integrity another being their reputation as the use by politicians whose agenda is cronies of lobbyists. Maintaining the not necessarily compatible with liberal of political parties is a integrity of political parties is a boring democracy. The European institutions but absolutely necessary element to are currently an obstacle in the way boring but absolutely regaining people’s trust in democratic of some national leaders’ quest to institutions. One way of doing so is consolidate power by sidelining necessary element by reducing the influence of private possible opposition in civil society, in to regaining people’s donors and increasing public funding. the media, and in the judiciary. Their Another way is via adequate and relevance is demonstrated by the trust in democratic modern communication, which still vitriol of the attacks against them. remains puzzlingly difficult for many Take Viktor Orban’s anti-Juncker institutions. mainstream politicians, much to the campaign, in which the Hungarian delight of the Farages and Le Pens leader attacked the President of the in our midst. European Commission while lobbying that such campaigns will always carry EU governments and parliaments at the day. The recent competition Yet, the strengthening of existing the same time to reduce support in the for the European People’s Party democratic institutions alone may Council in favour of activating Article 7 Spitzenkandidat is a case in point. not be enough to do the trick. against Hungary. Despite a well-stated case for an Frighteningly for many, the shape open, competitive, globally connected, as well as the content of public Ideas for the fightback and modern Europe, Alexander Stubb political debate has been irretrievably of Finland lost to Germany’s Manfred transformed by social media. One of the answers to the threat Weber – a less outspoken but more Although critics of current political faced by our democracies must institutionally well-heeled candidate.2 communication often point at its lie in strengthening democratic Nonetheless, Stubb’s campaign obvious failings, such as a lack of multilateral actors – such as the inspired those who wish for an active, civility, fewer people dare to attack its EU – by adding life and conviction robust, and democratic Europe on deeper structural inequity. Due to the to the current technical functioning the world stage. algorithms of commercial social media, of their institutions. This is not an we increasingly only see only opinions easy task given the complex nature Another answer, at the national level, similar to our own. of these institutions, but venues for is in re-invigorating mainstream party more engaging communication exist. politics and parliamentary democracy. This is a high-stakes issue since European election campaigns are a Political parties and parliaments do not common debate with our opponents good starting point for arguing the enjoy particularly high levels of trust rather than habitually mocking or case for a strong and vibrant European in most democratic countries.3 One demonising them is a prerequisite for democracy. This does not go to say of the reasons may be their distance the survival of our liberal democracies. from the everyday lives of voters;

1 Giovanni Sartori (1987) Theory of Democracy Revisited (Book 2). 2 See e.g. Politico on 17.10.18, ‘Alexander Stubb fires campaign starting gun’ https://www.politico.eu/article/alexander-stubb-fires-campaign-starting-gun-president-european-commission-spitzenkandidat/. 3 See e.g. Inter-Parliamentary Union, Global Parliamentary Report 2017.

29 THE CRISIS OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY ASKS FOR EDUCATION-BASED SOLUTIONS

Rarely has representative democracy The low level of trust in politicians is come more under scrutiny than in well-known and easy to document. current times. Both in Europe – where Two distinct cross-national surveys democracy took shape and evolved on socio-political attitudes (European from a philosophical concept to an Social Survey [ESS] 2016; European institutional type of arrangement – Values Survey [EVS] 2018) paint a grim and in the – where, picture of how poorly citizens perceive arguably, modern representative these institutions. Both samples offer democracy acquired its grass-roots an East versus West perspective. dimension – fundamental elements Eastern Europeans consistently trust of democracy are being questioned, their national parliaments and parties GEORGE JIGLAU and even mocked, on a daily basis. less than Western Europeans, with @georgejiglau It is, therefore, a challenge to draw dramatic cases such as Slovenia, /georgejiglau a line between sound criticism of Poland, and Croatia demonstrating democracy (an intrinsic part of any less than 10% trust in parties and 20% regime based on civil liberties) and trust in parliaments. Romania, which is tolerance of anti-democratic rhetoric in neither of the samples, has relatively and actions. How did we get here? similar scores. Western countries do not George Jiglau is a researcher Why are populists thriving? And how fare much better. Trust in parties is at and lecturer in Political Science can we fix this? approximately 50% in Northern-Western at the Babes-Bolyai University Europe, whereas Germany, Spain, and in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and Politicians are rational actors. They Austria feature well below this threshold. president of the think tank Center pick up on societal cues and exploit Generally, at least half of the citizens in for the Study of Democracy. them, sometimes cultivate them, in Western European countries do not trust order to capitalise politically on the parties or parliaments. The problem short and long term. It is a vicious therefore persists regardless of regional circle. Populism thrives on the specificities. This offers huge room for dissatisfaction of citizens – leading to manoeuvre to anti-democratic narratives either apathy or outright rage – with and political movements everywhere. respect to the elites who receive an institutional face in key institutions This dissatisfaction with parties and and processes of representative parliaments is sometimes justified. The democracy: political parties performance of politicians in public and parliaments. office is often poor and many of them

30 do not perceive the negative impact Education “on” and “for” policy-makers and media, with civil of their performance on citizens’ society providing oversight. What is perceptions of their institutions1. The democracy should be data, how it is ethically collected, and key is to shift the focus from how we how it is used to elaborate policies can replace parties and parliaments done consistently, from and evaluate them should be basic to how we can make these institutions knowledge. Data visualisation and function better. primary school through analysis skills should also be included to university. in curriculum planning for all ages, Why should the crisis of trust in building on the fact that computers the key pillars of representative and gadgets are now part of our lives democracy scare us? Because we do How do we do this? Through education. from a very young age. not know any other kind of democracy that can function in practice. There The need for “open government” Trust is the foundation of democracy. is an encouraging, growing body (with parties and parliaments) should Democracy requires institutions, of research being conducted on be incorporated within political power-sharing, checks and balances, “democratic innovations,” directing culture and values. In order for open and channels for every voice to citizens towards e-tools or increasing government policies to function, we have a chance at being heard. This the base and the frequency of citizens’ must significantly increase the level in turn explains the complexity, participation, especially at the local of knowledge and understanding of and sometimes the difficulty, of level, through town hall meetings or citizens on the roles and functions of understanding the usefulness of participatory budgeting. However, open government in representative, this construction. Without a solid the fact remains that representative democratic institutional setups. foundation, this construction can easily democracy cannot function without Education “on” and “for” democracy collapse, in quite a “noisy” way, with the vehicles of representation: should be done consistently, from consequences that might be foreseen political parties and parliaments, primary school through to university. owing to 20th century European connected through free and fair – Governments can be pushed to history. Without a solid foundation, democratic – elections. As scholars, become “open” only when politically democracy can only be held together policy-makers, or traditional and new educated citizens feel government via a consensus of political and media influencers, we must contribute behaviour does not match their own economic elites or through some to a wider understanding that the values and expectations. inter-state arrangements – such as the relevance of institutions and their role European Union. Both have proved in the democratic architecture of a We must also add a layer of data skills vulnerable or, at best, short-term polity goes well beyond the politicians to education. The current push for solutions, often exploited by populists who temporarily – and often poorly – the use of data in policy-making can as being “undemocratic.” In the long populate or lead them. only lead to sustainable results and term, there is no other alternative to become successful when the level rebuilding trust at the grassroots level of data literacy increases for both than through education.

1 Tom W. G. van der Mee, Political Trust and Crisis of Democracy, https://oxfordre.com/politics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228637-e-77.

31 A SHARED AMBITION IN DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY

As the 2019 European elections There have been a few powerful approach, with them comes the wake-up calls in the past couple rejuvenation of Europe’s political of years as to the need to protect representation. Although I face the elections in the digital era: the end of my time as Commissioner Facebook-Cambridge Analytica for Justice, Consumers and Gender scandal showed how personal data Equality, I look beyond the horizon can be weaponised for the profiling with eagerness and hope, towards a and targeting of voters. Social media time of pragmatic change for Europe. certainly has a democratising effect But caution prevails. on the levels of political participation, but instances of candidates’ accounts VĚRA JOUROVÁ Given the recent history of election being hacked and cyberattacks on seasons around the world, I find elections around the world are not myself concerned that we may be reassuring. This in turn has shed light facing a pattern in the obstruction of on the topic of foreign interference democracy. Fresh examples tell us and hybrid threats. Věra Jourová is currently that deliberate, coordinated efforts to European Commissioner for undermine our institutions and citizens’ Of course, the digital age does not Justice, Consumers and Gender confidence remain a possibility via only present a threat, it also provides Equality. Previously, Jourová cyber-attacks, disinformation, and solutions. Online services can increase held the position of Minister online manipulation by third countries transparency and contextualise for Regional Development in or private interests. sources of election information that the Czech Republic. She has citizens can engage with. Initiatives The alarming rise of populism and also worked as an international supported directly by the Commission backsliding in democracies around consultant focused on European demonstrate that the best and most the world, the still vast gaps in equal democratic solution to the challenges Union funding, and European political representation, and the facing democracy today is an informed Union Accession in the technological threats by malicious and aware citizenry. Western Balkans. groups to our dated electoral systems indicate that these upcoming elections will not be business as usual. We cannot be naïve and we have very little time to act.

32 Initiatives supported directly by the Commission demonstrate that the best and most democratic solution to the challenges facing democracy today is an informed and aware citizenry.

Given the very nature of our Union, However, this is something that can be number of women candidates they put endangering the integrity of the overcome through the involvement of forward. Achieving gender equality electoral process in one Member the platforms themselves. is about making fundamental rights State, affects the EU as a whole. a reality for all. While movements National authorities cannot address European democracies are also are building and more attention is these threats by working in isolation, threatened by the spread of hate falling on women’s rights globally, nor can private sector self-regulation speech, in particular in the online the situation in Europe is not yet solve it all. The Commission has, sphere. In May 2016, I initiated a Code near satisfactory. therefore, been supporting Member of Conduct with major IT platforms States with the Action Plan against to ensure a swift response to the When elections are free and fair, Disinformation by helping them proliferation of illegal hate speech. through resilient processes, openness, set up rapid alert systems to share What is illegal offline should be illegal transparency, and engagement with information on threats to information online. IT Companies have responded citizens, we can ensure a pluralistic in real time. The 2019 election to quickly to the challenge and two and democratic debate free from hate the European Parliament will be the half years on, a large majority of the speech and discrimination. The first under the new data protection flagged content has been swiftly Member States and the European rules, covering all actors in the reviewed and removed. Removing Union should take all actions electoral context. illegal hate speech and prosecuting necessary to defend their democratic offenders is key, yet it is not the last processes against manipulation. In a We have also been working step. Hate speech does not only affect democracy, citizens must be able to with online platforms, which find the safety of immediate victims, it also vote with the security that they are themselves as key information has a chilling effect on freedom of not being misled. It is our collective engines in today’s digital world, to expression more broadly. duty and responsibility to protect ensure we can effectively address democratic processes and elections, the disinformation threat together. We cannot have faith in democracy if and this is a legacy I want first for Illegal online hate speech is not only we do not see ourselves reflected in it. the European Union, and secondly a crime, it represents a threat to free I ardently encourage Member States for myself, to one day see it proudly speech and democratic engagement. and political parties to increase the displayed in our past.

33 MODERN CARAVELS: THREE ADVENTURES FROM LITHUANIA

A few centuries ago, a caravel - a In the last few years, we have small, manoeuvrable sailing ship - was embarked on various expeditions: a game-changer. Crews would embark to one of the most corrupt sectors on explorations of the unknown, in Lithuania; to an institution with compelled to make new discoveries. the lowest trust levels; and to communities with high potential At Transparency International for innovation. Our goal was to (TI) Lithuania, I often feel like a understand how small anti-corruption ‘sociophysicist’ in a modern caravel. and transparency victories can be We have to be flexible, listen to the created together with patients, needs of the organisations or the politicians, and pupils. INGRIDA KALINAUSKIENĖ groups that we work with, and help them understand how they can create @YouthIntegrity Would You Recommend Your Clinic a good and sustainable example of to a Friend or Colleague? www.transparencyschool.org transparency on their own. Within the European Union, Lithuania It is my opinion that the low levels has the second highest percentage of trust in government and public of bribery in healthcare institutions. Ingrida Kalinauskienė is currently institutions indicate that people do not This suggests that patients do not Chief Operations Officer at believe these institutions are acting trust the healthcare system as they Transparency International in their best interests. Being a young believe they cannot receive good Lithuania and leads TI person myself, I often do not trust what quality service without an additional I cannot understand. If you, like me, payment. Given the lack of progress in Lithuania’s Transparency School. are interested in concrete measurable tackling healthcare corruption through Previously, Ingrida interned at a initiatives and love behavioural conventional instruments, TI Lithuania non-governmental organization in science, I hope these three stories worked closely with an outpatient São Paulo, Brazil, and has project will provide you with insights for your clinic in Lithuania to develop a management experience in the own adventures. measured bottom-up initiative called private sector in Lithuania. Vitamin Lab.1 Vitamin Lab is a very Our experience in Lithuania shows simple and engaging interactive that maintaining a successful stance installation empowering patients to on transparency and accountability leave their feedback on the quality of requires three key ingredients: a service they receive. sense of ownership, realistic goals, and data. A proper combination of these ingredients can result in small victories that might spark a chain reaction leading towards greater improvements overall.

34 Results show that patients who Members of Parliament (MPs) do not in this exercise. We have encouraged evaluated the clinic’s service were meet with any interest groups or them to feel like the owners of their less likely to believe that unofficial lobbyists. At TI Lithuania, we decided schools and allocate a part of the payments or gift-giving would have to count the meetings with interest school budget (€1,000-1,500). As a helped them receive better treatment. groups that parliamentarians had result, they have come up with more Moreover, patients who provided already registered. In doing so, we than 100 ideas to improve school life: feedback felt more positively about were trying to introduce a simple habit new door lockers, benches, volleyball of transparency – encourage MPs to equipment, extra-curricular classes, show which interest groups and ideas etc. It is very exciting to see that more shape their political decisions. and more schools in Lithuania are Politicians increasingly opening up to new ideas and decide After two years of tracking and four to test innovative initiatives in their understand that a released reviews, the number of environment. This will hopefully set MPs declaring their meetings has an example not only for other schools good politician is a doubled and 1.5 times more meetings but also for our local politicians 4 transparent politician. have been published. Politicians and inspire them to introduce increasingly understand that a good participatory budgeting initiatives at politician is a transparent politician. the municipal level. the service at the clinic. This suggests Moreover, this small initiative has that patients understand bribery as a also contributed to the opening up of To sum up, if we as citizens were to service flaw. The more of such flaws parliamentary data and a strong push better understand the inner workings they see, the less likely they are to for better lobbying regulation. of our institutions, get more involved in recommend the service to others.2 their activities, and engage in proper How Would You Spend 1,000 Euros? This initiative has also helped us dialogue, we would have greater trust in our institutions and an increased start a discussion on the need for In France, more than 80 percent of sense of ownership when it comes to representative data and comparable schools have introduced participatory our cities. indicators of the performance of budgeting by inviting pupils to allocate healthcare institutions in Vilnius. 5 a small part of the school budget. Every summer we discuss similar We wondered if similar initiatives in Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant adventures with the young captains Lithuanian schools could increase of caravels from all over the world at One out of two Lithuanians do not the level of transparency and pupil the Transparency School in Vilnius. trust the Parliament, while almost two participation in decision-making. I believe that you too have similar thirds do not trust political parties.3 stories of small victories from your We are at the very beginning of two In Lithuania, lobbying is not talked country. Please feel free to share them such initiatives. Yet, we can already about; one might believe that our with me at [email protected]. see that pupils are actively engaging

1 https://www.transparency.lt/en/pacientai-kurie-ivertina-savo-apsilankyma-pas-gydytoja-maziau-linke-duoti-kysius/. 2 https://www.transparency.lt/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Social-design-experiments-in-healthcare_2016.pdf. 3 http://www.vilmorus.lt/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=2&cntnt01returnid=20. 4 https://www.transparency.lt/en/in-the-last-2-years-the-number-of-parliamentarians-who-declare-their-meetings-with-interest-groups-or- lobbyists-has-doubled/. 5 https://budgetparticipatif.paris.fr/bp/jsp/site/Portal.jsp?document_id=3158&portlet_id=171.

35 DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT, THINKING FORWARD

The European Union (EU) together How can the EU contribute to with its member states provides more democracy and to resilient societies than half of the official development in a meaningful, sustainable, and assistance globally. Democracy, rule constructive way? of law, and human rights are at the very heart of the development policy Firstly, the EU and its members should strategy laid out by the European lead by example. We need to get our Consensus on Development. The own house in order. Even when this is EU’s work to strengthen democracy the case, democratic decision-making enjoys widespread support among EU will not always bring about quick fixes citizens - 73% of them1 believe that the to complicated problems. It may look ELINA KALKKU EU should do more in this regard. messy, especially when profiled by social media or news outlets keen @ulkoministerio

Gender equality is a cost-efficient way to promote Elina Kalkku is Under-Secretary of sustainable development and democracy. State at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, responsible for development policy, Africa Democratic development, openness, to entertain. However, in strong and Middle East. She is a career and human rights are stagnating democracies, state institutions serve diplomat and joined the Ministry globally, with progress in some as cornerstones for stability and for in 1983. Her responsibilities countries and deterioration in others. corrective measures, when needed. 2 have included issues related to Half of those who are on the move today as refugees or migrants There is plenty of hard evidence foreign and security policy, trade leave authoritarian countries. The on how democracy and openness and development. majority try to head towards liberal foster peace and internal stability. democracies with better levels Through democratic processes, of well-being. In our modern and people have a channel to express united world, people share similar their grievances and influence the dreams: They want to live in peace, manner in which their problems are learn, earn a living for their families, solved. Promoting local and regional and contribute to their societies in a democracy deserves more attention. meaningful way. They want to have The UN and the World Bank joint 3 a say in the decisions that affect report on “Pathways to Peace” their lives. underlines the central role of local and regional democracy in fostering peace and stability.

36 Another area where European Thirdly, the EU already has excellent Fourth, in times of Agenda 2030 experiences may help others is on policies and instruments available and the Sustainable Development the peaceful change of power after today. Action should cross the Goals, Europe has a special role to elections and the sharing of power different silos between development ensure that “no one is left behind”. in coalition governments. This can cooperation and other policy Deep divisions, inequality, and serve as well-meaning advice even if areas. Specific to development resentment undermine democracy it is not always welcome. The Nordic funding, about 13% goes to support both in Europe and around the world. Countries are among those who have government and civil society. EU Gender equality is a cost-efficient way tested coalitions for a long time. They delegations conduct regular political to promote sustainable development all were originally poor. Finland was dialogue with partner governments and democracy. In humanitarian crises, once a fragile and deeply divided whereby democratic values and the most vulnerable are the most in country. At one point, a few wise principles are addressed. Support is need. There are more people on the politicians on both sides of the divide given to the government’s capacity to move4 now than in the aftermath of the realised that the nation would not deliver, to democratic actors, as well Second World War – and a significant survive if power was not shared and as to democratic practices. Providing number are forced to flee their homes the sense of inclusiveness among support for good governance, within the developing world. Women, people strengthened. Finland’s current openness, and anti-corruption is children, and people with disabilities international record, be it in economic essential. Election observation is an deserve extra attention. This approach competitiveness, stability, education, EU trademark. goes to the very core of the values or happiness, speaks for itself. which the EU represents. The old saying “you cannot eat Secondly, supporting democracy is democracy” is also true. Democracy To sum up, it is time to upgrade not only about what we do, but also will function well only when jobs and the EU development policy. The how we do it. Promoting democracy livelihoods are available. Education next EU development cooperation often requires strategic patience. The and the role of a fact-based and programming phase provides an expression of the will of people in free media are equally important. important opportunity to safeguard each country is key. The EU’s external During elections, people need to be democracy, human rights, and action and development policy can able to assess candidates so as to rule of law. play a supportive role, but the EU must make rational choices. Politics and act efficiently and in a timely manner. entertainment should not become In non-democratic countries, many one and the same anywhere. have considered options on how to proceed towards more openness and In rare cases, the EU and its members change in an orderly manner. Collapse need to be ready to use an unpleasant is not usually a desirable option, but tool and ask the question: can reversing earlier development may tax-payers’ money be disbursed to also be a dangerous choice in our support a government that turns a modern and integrated world. It does country in a negative direction not create stability over the long term. with its own deliberate decisions?

1 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/628271/EPRS_BRI(2018)628271_EN.pdf. 2 https://www.v-dem.net/media/filer_public/3f/19/3f19efc9-e25f-4356-b159-b5c0ec894115/v-dem_democracy_report_2018.pdf. 3 https://www.pathwaysforpeace.org. 4 https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/20/world/unhcr-displaced-peoples-report/index.html.

37 BUILDING THE COMMON GOOD

There is no doubt that the current Few people are conscious of the parliamentary democratic system is fact that the common good is given facing a widening distrust amongst substance by the form of cities, their the electorate. Promises which are built fabric, streets, and squares. trumpeted during elections are rarely These have united Europe despite honoured on the national level, even profound divisions of class and less so on the level of the European customs of religious believes, of Union (EU). What is broadly perceived ideological narratives, of spoken is that, far from working for the common languages and idioms. The European good, our democracies serve powerful public realm, a unique gift of the partial interests. Here, it is not the form Greco-Roman Christian civilisation, LEON KRIER of government but the choices and is the neutral ground where the goals which are disputed. spectrum of human diversity mingles and interacts in a peaceful and The question is whether more constructive rivalry. Without that public open democracy will necessarily space, democracy could not have Leon Krier is an architect, build the common good. We are developed, and without it democracy urban planner and pioneering currently witnessing the opposite will not survive. architectural theorist in promoting tendency. The European Leviathan the technological, ecological and is in permanent overdrive under The model most fitted to the social rationality and modernity pressure from powerful industrial gregarious nature of humans – which of traditional urbanism and lobbies. The Parliamentary machinery no sophistication of circulation and architecture; he is considered multiplies laws and edicts without communications technologies can the “Godfather” of the “New a declared goal or limit to guide supersede – is the polycentric city Urbanism” movement. it. Ever-expanding bureaucracy is of independent communities: the needed to police metastasising aggregation of self-sufficient mixed- regulations. The premises of the use, human scale urban quarters. permanent lobbies, marauding the Gated single-use developments of Parliaments in the three EU Capitals, whatever covenant cannot replace rival the surfaces occupied by the the formative role of public space in institutions. The beehive activities maintaining democracy. in parliamentary lobbies singularly contrast with the gaping abandon of If unregulated by graceful manners, the Parliamentary Hemicycles. etiquette, and style, the expressions and exertions of power inevitably I limit my discourse to architecture and breath a coarse despotism. What urbanism and their role in building the holds true for human interaction is common good. My hypothesis is that critical for buildings where political the common good is not an inevitable power is exerted and represented. product of democratic action. It is a project that must be the shared National parliaments in most and declared goal of a society and democratic countries are still housed transcend political, religious, social, in beautiful classical palaces. racial, and linguistic differences. Nevertheless, the buildings of the

38 European institutions in Brussels, A small new capital of Europe — heir to the Luxembourg, and Strasbourg stand out on account of their architectural Greco-Roman Christian polis — should be created muteness, their hostile anonymity, their massive size, their shallow on the Rhine as a model and symbol of Europe’s symbolism, and above all a sovereign disregard for their urban and perennial social, ethical, and aesthetic values. cultural contexts.

Instead of symbolising the democratic are experts at routinely realising A global critique of capitalism/ and aesthetic virtues championed by mono-functional, horizontal and socialism without a global political, Europe for millennia, EU institutional vertical sprawl, suburban dilution, and economic, technical, and cultural buildings project the image of a central hyperconcentration. Territorial project amounts to a mere declaration faceless bureaucracy and dictatorial mono-functional zoning is what they of submission to fate. technocracy. For over 60 years, practice and what they exclusively The New Traditional Architecture and the un-loved EU palaces have believe in and support. Dominated New Urbanism, based on long-term, demonstrated that those responsible by global multi-nationals and criminal millennial experience is the only for their form ignore the ethics and cartel interests, they legislate the coherent theory and practice of aesthetics that civilised power anti-city and dismantle civil society. environmental design to this day. keepers – independent of beliefs As a result, the traditional European The many architects who practice it and ideologies – employed through built environment, a world of beautiful around the world do so despite their the ages to sustain their authority, and durable objects of use, is being modernist architectural education, to respect it, and, in the end, make it replaced by a disenchanted world of against overwhelming peer pressure, meaningful and legitimate. short-term objects of consumption. These policies are aesthetically and yet sustained by wide public support The vast territorial restructuring and ecologically unsustainable. and market demand. Architects and cultural revolution engineered by planners have the choice to serve a modern industrial democracies has The current tropes of “greening” futureless folly or to plan and build the eroded the fabric of the common single-use mega-structures, of “climate common good. good, which has been second nature protection” and “Energiewende” of The EU should embrace this project for generations of Europeans. Despite “freedom, security, progress” are not and lead the way. A small new capital its monumental failures, the electorate credible social narratives. The Marxian of Europe – heir to the Greco-Roman is made to believe that town hypothesis that industrial progress Christian polis – should be created on planning and architecture continue would see the “reign of liberty” the Rhine as a model and symbol of to be in competent hands. They are eventually triumph over the “reign Europe’s perennial social, ethical, and not. Modernist planning, building of necessity” is belied by the trivial aesthetic values. industries, and administrations pursuits of an alienated, unemployable, and disoriented leisure society.

39 IT IS ABOUT BOTH SOCIAL AND POLITICAL TRUST

Have our institutions and governments and social trust is critical in bringing become much worse over the past about systemic change, especially few decades? Is trust higher in many when change is uncomfortable for authoritarian regimes because individuals and its positive effects they perform better? Possibly not, might not be visible immediately. To but the manner in which political regain trust, efforts have to be made communication has evolved, news is across various levels of government produced, amplified, and consumed and society. has changed dramatically. Citizens, especially in democracies, have Invest in education more information than ever before Because of the tremendous amount SANDOR LEDERER about our decision makers, the of information we have to digest on mistakes they make, and the crimes @k_monitor a daily basis, the complexity of the they commit. People also see and challenges we face, and the rapid feel the increasing inequality within change of technology, production, countries and around the globe, which and labour, we need well-educated, understandably leads to frustration Sandor Lederer is the co-founder creative citizens who understand how at being left behind and feeling and director of K-Monitor, a the world around them works and excluded. More information about are in possession of the skills and prominent Hungarian anti- our problems might make us more knowledge to shape it. This does not corruption watchdog. Sandor desperate and hopeless. has been an expert contributor simply mean a flexible labour force for the economy, but rather minds that to the European Commission’s Still, I believe that the solution to are autonomous, or, in other words, Anti-corruption Reports and is an distrust is not to lower the level of conscious citizens. Good education inaugural Obama Fellow, as well transparency or restrict the press. Rather, it is the inclusion of citizens for all has to become as fundamental as a European Young Leader at into decision-making and oversight a right as the air we breathe. Friends of Europe. procedures that would enable them Value honesty to have a say and take responsibility. Most of the global challenges the We make mistakes every day. We world faces today, such as poverty, arrive late to meetings, damage inequality, environmental issues, our cars, or forget our loved migration, terrorism, violent conflicts, ones’ birthdays. In our personal unemployment, and automation, relationships, we have learnt how to require long-term, collective global understand each other’s weaknesses, efforts. This will arguably also need flaws, how to say sorry, and how changes in our attitudes, thinking, to forgive. But we are much less and even our way of life. Both political

40 To regain trust, efforts representing interests of certain Political reforms can also support this lobbies instead of their electorate, or process. More competences have have to be made CEOs of car manufacturers that simply to be delegated to the local level of cheat with emissions to make bigger public administration to create new across various levels of profit while neglecting the aspects of forms of participation and encourage our health and the environment – can collaboration between individuals government and society. do whatever they please. The work and micro-communities. Regaining of Romania’s National Anti-Corruption and sustaining trust can only be Directorate (DNA) has shown how possible by claiming political space for forgiving of our representatives and important prosecution of corruption citizens and their communities. This decision makers. We have to learn to is in parts of the world where citizens is why working on the local level has differentiate between failure, damage rarely witness that corruption and become a strategic activity for the done by mistake, well-intentioned mismanagement has consequences. anti-corruption watchdog I am working poor decisions and shameless for, K-Monitor. corruption. Honesty should be valued Strengthen communities more than short-term success. This And this is also the reason why I also applies to political campaigns. Lack of trust towards government and find the subnational level as one of Respect for human dignity also institutions is especially problematic the most inspiring areas the Open means that voters or consumers if it is accompanied by low levels Government Partnership (OGP) is are considered as grown-ups of social trust. In several countries, involved in. I would want for this pillar when addressed by politicians or citizens have greater trust in the of open government to rapidly expand advertising companies. police than in their fellow citizens. and welcome cities and regions While being more connected than of countries where governments Stop impunity ever virtually, we might feel lonelier have not realised the importance of than the generations before us. A new One reason for the general mistrust openness and participation. In so social fabric has to be created in many towards elites stems from the doing, the OGP can play a pioneering of our societies. The balance between perception that the ‘big fish’ are never role in strengthening new forms self-interest and community-interest caught, that the elite – be it politicians of participation and restoring trust has to be tipped towards the latter. within societies.

41 A MESSAGE OF HOPE

In the run-up to the crucial May We need a vision for 2019 elections for the European Parliament, what we have ‘always’ Europe’s future, defined taken for granted – liberal democracy, respect for universal human rights, in terms of participation, and the rule of law – no longer remains uncontested, while their non-discrimination, free defence increasingly resembles a choice, and pluralism, retreating rear-guard action. Collective memories of the horrors unleashed and where fundamental by totalitarian regimes upon Europe MICHAEL O’FLAHERTY fade, or, worse, are transformed into a and human rights are nostalgia for a glorified utopian past. used to realise that Ten years have passed from the greatest economic crisis since the vision at the most Michael O’Flaherty is Director of Great Depression which triggered an local level. the EU Agency for Fundamental unprecedented crisis of democratic Rights and adjunct Professor of legitimacy. In some European Law at the National University of countries, this led to electoral gains for EU, in particular Roma, Jews, Muslims Ireland Maynooth. Previously he populist, even extremist,1 parties which or LGBTI people, as well as the served as Chief Commissioner challenge the very essence of liberal critical challenges facing civil society of the Northern Ireland Human democracy, some speaking openly of organisations working to protect and Rights Commission and as a a new “illiberal state” to best protect promote human rights.5 2 member of the United National the interest of the “nation”. Mainstream political parties reacted Human Rights Committee, latterly Much evidence has accumulated with surprise and annoyance. as a Vice-Chairperson. during that time pointing to the Many tried to lure back voters dangerously rapid erosion of the by adopting a harder stance on post–war institutional architecture migration and security (both core which ensured peace and democratic citizens’ concern across the EU);6 stability in Europe: only last year, the others responded to economic report of the Bertelsmann Stiftung grievances through job creation, on the Sustainable Governance better wages, pension security, etc. Indicators suggests that in the EU The European Commission, guardian “the model of liberal democracy is of the EU’s Treaties and its Charter subject to growing pressure – in of Fundamental Rights, pursued a some countries this means that even precarious balance: they responded central democratic and constitutional to popular concerns about security standards such as media freedoms and migration whilst trying to reinforce are already severely damaged social protection and improving rules or undermined”.3 The FRA’s4 own on working conditions through legal survey work over the past few years measures under the non-legally highlights the persisting plight of binding ‘new European Social Rights large shares of the diverse migrant Pillar’. This initiative tries to counteract or indigenous minorities living in the the consequences of the EU’s

42 efforts after the economic crisis to both improve material well-being taken into account in public decisions maintain fiscal discipline, necessary and enhance citizens’ participation and in establishing the rules, laws, for the survival of the EU’s common in decision making, thus serving and institutions.”10 currency – a core aspect of European democracy; where education does integration. It also has the potential to not merely transmit knowledge, but This is a resounding message of hope, reduce persisting inequalities within serves to raise citizens, women and matched with an urgency to make use and between Member States. men respectful of each other, thus of the existing tools and mechanisms promoting human rights; where the that governments have to address The Commission’s suggested operation of justice makes everyone threats to democracy and reinvigorate policy responses, if effectively and feel, in the words of Hannah Arendt, the notion of all human rights for swiftly implemented, could resonate to have a “right to have rights”, thus all. They have already committed to positively with many. And yet, others, building confidence in the rule of law.9 achieving this by the end of the next mostly from low and middle-income decade in the global plan of action, groups,7 could retain their societal Such a vision was articulated by Agenda 2030, and its 17 sustainable pessimism, “an additional and possibly the over 700 participants of the development goals. This will require overarching characteristic of populist Fundamental Rights Forum organised globally, in a European, and in every radical right voters”8 if they continue by FRA last September. A vision for national context the development to feel and fear that they and their Europe’s future, defined in terms of of unprecedented levels of synergy families continue to lose out when participation, non-discrimination, free and cooperation. This will fuse the others are gaining. choice, and pluralism, and where productive energies of every citizen, fundamental and human rights are every community and organisation, What to do? We need a vision of used to realise that vision at the most every level of government to deliver democracy that builds on the wisdom local level. A vision for a democracy what can transform nostalgia – for a born out of past experience to that redistributes “the power to speak chimeric past – to vigorous hope for a describe a future where the potential to the public, so that the arguments better future. of modern technology is used to and positions of all the people are

1 For example, the ‘Popular Association – Golden Dawn’ a political party represented in the Greek Parliament; its leader and several members are currently on trial for forming a criminal organization (Article 187 par. 1 Greek Criminal Code). 2 Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, speech at the 25th Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp, July 30, 2014, available at https://www.kormany.hu/en/the-prime-minister/the-prime-minister-s-speeches/prime-minister-viktor-orban-s-speech-at-the-25th-balvanyos- summer-free-university-and-student-camp. 3 Bertelsmann Stiftung (2018), Policy Performance and Governance Capacities in the OECD and EU Sustainable Governance Indicators 2018, p. 52. 4 The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. 5 FRA (2018), Challenges facing civil society organisations working on human rights in the EU. 6 Standard Eurobarometer 90, Autumn 2018. 7 Lakner, Christoph; Milanovic, Branko. 2013. Global Income Distribution: From the Fall of the Berlin Wall to the Great Recession. Policy Research Working Paper; No. 6719. World Bank, Washington, DC. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/16935. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO. 8 Eefje Steenvoorden & Eelco Harteveld (2018) The appeal of nostalgia: the influence of societal pessimism on support for populist radical right parties, West European Politics, 41:1, 28-52, DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2017.1334138. 9 Hannah Arendt (1951), The origins of Totalitarianism, Harcourt, Inc., pp. 296-297. 10 Jérôme Creel, Éloi Laurent, Jacques Le Cacheux (editors), 2018, Report on the State of the European Union, Volume 5: The Euro at 20 and the Futures of Europe, p. 205 - OFCE, Sciences Po, Paris https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98364-6.

43 TRANSPARENCY, DISINFORMATION, AND NEW LEGISLATION FOR POLITICAL PARTIES

As Interior Minister, I deal with Technological developments are matters relating to the state of moving ahead at a rapid pace all democracy in the Netherlands on a over the world. They bring benefits, daily basis. There are two aspects but at the same time also make us that I would like to single out here: vulnerable. The internet gives us a trust in political parties and the greater degree of freedom in airing fight against disinformation. These our opinions, thereby facilitating a affect transparency – the heart of fundamental constitutional right: the work of the Open Government citizens’ ability to challenge and to Partnership – they reach beyond the be critical. On the other hand, we are interests of the Netherlands, and they also witnessing foreign interference in KAJSA OLLONGREN are interlinked. democratic elections, such as through @KajsaOllongren the dissemination of disinformation. The situation in the Netherlands These developments are occurring is a relatively healthy one. Trust in at a time of increasing polarisation democracy is at a high level. The same in our western societies. Heated goes for trust in Dutch elections, which debates and strongly held opinions Kajsa Ollongren is the Dutch has been reaffirmed time and again have always been part and parcel of Minister of the Interior and by foreign observers. We are regularly everyday life. And that is as it should Kingdom Relations since invited to talk about our achievements be. However, with the increased October 2017. In that capacity in this regard. This high level of trust use of the internet, it is becoming she is responsible for the Open is a precious asset that we obviously increasingly difficult to trace texts back Government Partnership Action cherish and wish to maintain. to their original authors. Plan of the Netherlands. We have a long tradition of attaching To prevent the exploitation of society’s great importance to the independence differences through disinformation, of political parties. Therefore, we are there needs to be greater clarity as in principle wary about imposing laws to where the information comes from. or regulations on the nature, shape, The Dutch cabinet would like to see and funding of political parties. This political parties set an example in this means that, unlike a number of other regard. That is why I am proposing the western democracies, the Netherlands creation of a Political Parties Act. does not as yet have a general law on political parties. The question, however, is whether – in the light of the online revolution – this position is still adequate in present times.

44 The battle against disinformation and for studied the impact of social media and search engines, in the run-up to transparency in politics has to be fought jointly our regional elections of 20 March, by governments and the private sector. and continue to do so ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections. They have also been looking at The key word in the new act will be Commission recently recommended the transparency of the origin of transparency. We seek to introduce that Dutch political parties taking information from search engines and greater transparency into how political part in elections to the House of on social media. parties are funded while making online Representatives should be obliged In this matter, technology companies election campaigns and political to report on the digital instruments play a key role. For example, Twitter advertisements more transparent, as a that they use during election recently announced that it will only means of combatting disinformation. campaigns. Possible examples allow political advertisements in the include data analysis; micro targeting; European Union from parties that have In addition to existing rules, we are and other digital technologies for registered on the platform in advance. proposing to prohibit all foreign profiling citizens, reaching them, and This will improve transparency to donations to Dutch political parties, providing them with information. The Twitter users as to who has paid for a with the exception of donations State Commission also advocated particular advertisement and whom it emanating from the European Union compulsory transparency regarding is intended for. member states. Financial ties with political advertisements so that it is political parties in the European immediately clear what they are and The battle against disinformation and Union fall under the free movement who is responsible for putting out the for transparency in politics has to be of capital and the close relations that message contained in them. We will fought jointly by governments and most Dutch political parties have with be giving these recommendations our the private sector. It is a positive sign their European sister parties. Dutch serious consideration and incorporate that companies such as Facebook, citizens who are eligible to vote but them into the new act, where possible. Google, Twitter, and Mozilla have reside outside the Netherlands can signed our European Code of Practice. still donate. Fortunately, we are not the only ones. However, the code will only be of These matters are coming under use if it is actually complied with. Let We are also aiming to make political scrutiny in other countries as well. us, as governments, call upon these campaigns more transparent. Until The exchange of knowledge and best companies to ensure that they adhere now, there have been very few laws practices at the European level can to these agreements and work jointly governing electoral campaigns in be greatly beneficial. That being the to safeguard our democracies from the Netherlands. However, a State case, researchers in the Netherlands online interference.

45 ROLE UPDATE: THE CIVIL SERVANT IN THE NETWORKED SOCIETY

When reading about Sweden being Reports and our own observations the most democratic country in the suggest that similar experiences are European Union (EU)2 you would be common amongst public servants forgiven for thinking that there aren’t everywhere in Sweden, and arguably too many challenges to democracy in many countries throughout here. Look beyond the rankings, the EU. Command-and-control ADRIAN SOLITANDER however, and you will find room governance, excessive outsourcing for improvement. of competence away from the public sector, monolithic procurements, and Amidst the talk about democratic excessive supervision are all part of values, it may be easy to forget that the problem. the quality of impartial and effective public service is more relevant to It is clear that these are structural PIERRE MESURE citizen satisfaction with democracy issues that require political attention than the representational processes at the highest level as they ultimately themselves.3 Developing the role and threaten the quality of democratic health of public service is therefore outcomes. Nonetheless, across many an essential part of taking care of countries in the EU and beyond, we a democracy. see civil servants who proactively want to help renew the public sector Recently, a Swedish chief physician from within. In a few countries, JENNY PERSSON1 publicly shared some of her including Sweden, our grassroots experiences of public administration: movement for the renewal of the @OneTeamGovSE “People do not want to hear more public sector goes under the name ill-prepared proposals from ignorant, of One Team Gov. We bring together controlling politicians, regional directors, anyone interested in contributing, or administrators. They do not want regardless of their sector, seniority, One Team Gov Sweden is the more middle managers, management skills, or background to both voice and Swedish chapter of a global support, guides or coordinators develop ideas for reform. community, working together to coordinating stuff they do not want. They do not want to hear the word Here are a few ways in which we radically reform the public sector production unit when talking about think the role of public servants through practical action. One Team health care. No more steering groups and the principles of civil service Gov is driven by optimism and the where no one dares to be honest.”4 could be updated to achieve better desire to make things better, and democratic outcomes: united by a set of core principles.

46 The quality of impartial and effective public service is more relevant to citizen satisfaction with democracy than the representational processes themselves. Developing the role and health of public service is therefore an essential part of taking care of a democracy.

Bring back the human into exercise control of external suppliers’ are approximately 90 supervisory complex problem-solving operating staff, thereby leaving government agencies at the national sensitive citizen data at the risk of level in Sweden. We believe that First, we believe decision-makers leaks or misuse. It is crucial that the reinvesting some of their current must abandon the dogma that there is public sector acquire IT competence efforts into the best of digital thinking one way to ‘do’ reform. Civil servants of its own. This means giving public for more data-driven accountability should not create huge plans or think servants better opportunities to would pay off immensely. that they will get everything right from improve their digital skills as well the beginning, but should instead be as attracting and developing new Finally, let us recall that enormous humble in their approach and focus on in-house digital talent. sums of money are spent on asking the right questions to get to the administration at all levels of best answers. New policies should be Embrace technology for democratic government and the public sector tested with real people – citizens and checks and balances instead of creating real value. public servants – as early as possible Real value for citizens can only and refined with their needs in mind. Third, instead of demanding be created when their knowledge ever-increasing command-and-control and insights together with those Invest in in-house structures, we believe that the media, of public servants are included digital competence politicians, and supervising authorities irrespective of hierarchies and silos. should embrace technology to a much For this purpose, open and informal Second, underinvestment in the digital larger extent than they currently do networks like One Team Gov provide competence of public servants on all so as to make the public sector more a powerful platform and should be levels is becoming a major problem accountable. Data-driven and open considered as part of the professional for running secure public services government approaches remain development of public servants in the and handling citizen data in a fair and underutilised in this context. There networked society. democratic manner. It is difficult to

1 All active in One Team Gov Sweden, a grassroots movement based on seven principles for the reform of the public sector. https://www.oneteamgov.se/. 2 EIU Democracy Index 2018. 3 Boräng, Frida & Nistotskaya, Marina & Xezonakis, Georgios. (2017). The quality of government determinants of support for democracy. Journal of Public Affairs. 17. e1643. 10.1002/pa.1643. 4 Spencer, Anna (2018): ”Hög tid att avskaffa dumhetskulturen”. Dagens Medicin 24/08/2018. Available at https://www.dagensmedicin.se/artiklar/2018/08/24/hog-tid-att-avskaffa-dumhetskulturen/.

47 ACCOUNTABLE PUBLIC GOVERNANCE: FROM "DECIDE-ANNOUNCE-DEFEND" TO "ENGAGE-DELIBERATE-DECIDE"

The context within which process. The government task force governments operate is changing: accomplishing this feat produced hierarchies are turning into networks; and disseminated knowledge, built consultations are taking the form of networks, and supported the planning co-creation and citizen assemblies; and implementation of experiments. collective wisdom and action are The Finnish government has realised playing a bigger role than ‘mere’ the power of co-creation in the political will; policy-making is context of diminishing resources and increasingly being based on data and ageing society. open knowledge; bureaucracies are being replaced by citizen-friendly (e-) Despite Estonia’s reputation as TEELE PEHK services and processes; and strategic a digital pioneer, public sector innovation is lagging behind. Ministries @activetallinn planning is being complemented by agile experiments.1,2 All of this work in silos and digital means are still requires a fundamental rethink of the believed to solve big problems. There role of the public sector. are some attempts to foster design thinking and experimentation, but the The accountability of the public potential for innovative governance Teele Pehk is a democracy artist sector lies in the manner in which in this small, flexible, and tech-savvy and democracy fitness trainer, processes are undertaken, that is, country is on hold. working on open governance in the architecture of governance. and citizen assemblies in How does this governance reveal Having said that, Estonian policy- Estonia and beyond. She is itself? One can, for example, judge making is inspired by citizen the former manager of the whether its structures and processes assemblies. Three assemblies collective initiatives platform are open and transparent, whether have been held by civil society www.rahvaalgatus.ee. the public sector facilitates dialogue organisations and think tanks during and discussions, whether it inspires the past six years, with the most collective action and uses collective recent set up by the Ministry of 4 wisdom, and how deftly it solves Environment. The Forestry Assembly conflicts and co-creates strategies to selected approximately 40 people by protect public interest. One can also lottery, who – over two weekends – gauge by whether the public sector learnt about the state and the future values the pioneers, innovators, of forestry, discussed alternatives, and activists who campaign for and submitted 100 suggestions to the sustainable development, equal ministry. The proposals served as an rights, or reclaiming public space. input to the forestry development plan.

Enabling governance in the Nordics The previous three assemblies in Estonia5 - People’s Assembly on The Finnish government is an Elections, Engagement and Parties in inspiring example in creating enabling 2013; People’s Assembly on the Future environments: four years of testing of Ageing in 2017; the deliberation experimental governance have series #HowDoWeLast? in 2018 and led to the emergence of a culture 2019 - have introduced Estonians to of trust and courage,3 with failures knowledge-based discussions and as a logical part of the learning collective decision-making amongst

48 a diverse group of people. These With an enabling and assemblies be commissioned by processes have combined offline those who have the responsibility to and online tools – as observed with inspiring public sector, implement policies – local, regional, the platform rahvaalgatus.ee – to or national governments. facilitate and increase the role of citizens will need no deliberative democracy. The ancient Greeks managed longer measure their to organise public policy by Citizen assemblies as a way deliberation. Why can we not do of governance trust in institutions, as the same now? If there are doubts trust will be embedded as to how a small group of people, Such people’s assemblies in Estonia, referred to as the mini-public, can but also in the UK, Belgium, Mongolia, in the design of be entrusted to decide challenging Tanzania, , and many other issues for the whole of society, then countries have proven that designed deliberative governance. one could point them towards the deliberation helps overcome Centre for Deliberative Democracy ignorance and polarisation on thorny citizen assembly with randomly at Stanford University, which has political issues; focus on common selected inhabitants. developed technological tools to goals, such as sustainable forestry in bring deliberations to the broad Using and enabling collective wisdom Estonia or rewriting the constitution public. Could this method be scaled and action can quickly replace the by in Mongolia and Iceland; and build up to tackle major topics such as the now outdated policy-making creed of a more conducive atmosphere climate crisis?9 for consensus. The more citizen “Decide-Announce-Defend-Abandon”. assemblies there are, the more familiar With the “Engage-Deliberate-Decide- The EU’s Future of Government 7 people will become with this model Implement” way of governance, 2030+ scenarios10 predict that of policy-making. They are bound to solutions tend to be more innovative citizen assemblies will become question why more issues could not and policies more legitimate as mainstream in governance. With an be decided via this method. Having they have more “owners”. Although enabling and inspiring public sector, realised the potential of empowering assemblies are advisory in nature, the citizens will need no longer measure citizens, the German-speaking proposals hold the weight, substance their trust in institutions, as trust region in Belgium is remodelling its and legitimacy of public voice on an will be embedded in the design of 8 governance6 by creating a permanent issue. It is therefore crucial that citizen deliberative governance.

1 https://apolitical.co/solution_article/trends-government-innovation/. 2 https://states-of-change.org/stories/towards-an-experimental-culture-in-government-reflections-on-and-from-practice. 3 https://apolitical.co/solution_article/finland-experimental-culture-government/. 4 https://www.envir.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/metsandus/metsanduse-arengukava-aastateks-2021-2030. 5 https://rahvakogu.ee/in-english/. 6 https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-democratic-experiment-citizens-assembly/. 7 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53f5e2eae4b0593b948c9e4c/t/547f6e43e4b0c27762e5896e/1417637443121/feb09_engage_ deliberate_decide.pdf. 8 https://www.involve.org.uk/resources/blog/opinion/citizens-assembly-climate-change-how-would-it-work. 9 Ibid. 10 https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/future-government-2030.

49 BATTLES FOR IDEAS

We stand before one of the most Each individual or group quickly difficult predicaments of post-Cold sharing the information is primarily War politics in Europe. Four elements interested, not in its intrinsic are working in tandem to increase the usefulness, but in capturing a shred sense of alienation of Europeans from of attention amongst its massive their polity, while also boosting fringe audience. In this process, information parties in many European Union (EU) is prone to be eroded, toxified, and member states – First, a consistent fragmented into bits digestible in the failure of technocrats to provide brief attention span of social media. solutions to enduring problems; Second, technological change that In consuming and propagating partial, MICHALIS PERSIANIS caters to the massive but rapid sensationalist slices of information, consumption of partial information; citizens become polarised, Third, an increased demand by disenchanted, and disaffected, citizens to be included in decision- unwilling to spend more than a flake making as they search for solutions of attention. None of this will change Michalis Persianis is Corporate to persistent problems; and lastly, the soon, and political parties catering Affairs Director at Bank of stifling of public debate – on which to fear and populism from the fringes Cyprus. Previously he worked vibrant liberal democracies depend of the political spectrum are poised as a correspondent for the Wall – by the consensual politics of the to continue expanding their base Street Journal and Dow Jones largest parties in Europe. across Europe. from 2011 to 2014, and as Head Editor for Economy and Finance It is clear that the financial malaise, the at Kathimerini newspaper (Cyprus migration crisis, continued security edition) from 2009 to 2014. concerns, and a growing anxiety The remedy can be over job security in the face of new technologies have together catalysed no other than a daring, the feeling that our system of political organisation is exclusive, opaque, and aggressive social and ultimately ineffective in the face of economic legislative mounting problems. agenda on a In the context of increased demands, impotent delivery by technocrats, and European level. the feeling of alienation, citizens turn to sensational, quick answers that they can process in the brief amount of time that they consume posts, blogs, infographics, and slogans.

50 Political parties and movements to be arbitrary, as they address Regardless of the answers we may that define themselves as problems but seldom do they provide come to, such questions would “anti-establishment” thrive on these tangible solutions. refocus public discourse back to the polarising “slivers of information” principles and foundational beliefs of our age by providing simple but Above all, the European political of the EU rather than banalities like faulty solutions to the very complex debate is focused on “managerial” the infamous inspection rules on problems that consensual politics and issues. This is important, but it is not cabotage. Ultimately, they would glorified technocrats fail to address. enough. Discussions on integration, on disaggregate “the establishment” subsidiarity, on deeper collaboration, into distinct parts, reinvigorating the Ironically, the consensual politics and on the nature of the future EU very public debate that makes liberal adopted by the political and economic polity have been relegated to the role democracies so vibrant. forces of “the establishment,” only of moot intellectual exercise. One is exacerbate their position through the hard pressed to find an iota of vision in It would also cause intense debate homogeneous texture of their politics. the Commission’s ten priorities – even and political positioning without The major European parties have not in areas such as migration and the jeopardising the democratic process. locked horns over ideological grand EU’s role as a global actor where a Liberal democracy thrives on themes since the 1990s, with some new “geometry” of EU capabilities is battles for ideas and on a vibrant brief and ultimately impotent examples manifestly needed. public debate. like the Working Time Directive that led to national-level mobilization in The remedy can be no other than Lastly, a more aggressive, radical, 2006, including demonstrations led by a daring, aggressive social and and daring legislative program would labour unions.1 economic legislative agenda on perhaps produce more useful results a European level. Apart from a than those seen in several decades Apart from clustering mainstream deeper monetary and banking of Commission-initiated legislation, parties as “the establishment” in the union, the EU needs a stronger precisely because our union is in need eyes of citizens who feel marginalised, social agenda that can bring to of more aggressive solutions. these tactics also elevate the role of question its very structure. Should technocracy. Technocracy, however, there be a European right to access The democratic process will surely has failed to deliver solutions. This can universal healthcare? Should there water-down such proposals to achieve arguably be attributed to the European be a European set of principles on majorities. However, such moves will Commission’s sole right to initiate housing? Should migration become at least reinvigorate a meaningful legislation. The results tend to be an outright EU competency? Where public debate that can crowd out politically pasteurised half-measures is the Petersberg-task army we were some of the more populist slogans. driven by lobbying and backroom promised as part of our humanitarian This is not enough, to be sure. But it haggling. Above all, they often seem vision and our role in the world?2 would be a good start to fighting back.

1 https://www.euronews.com/2006/02/12/thousands-demonstrate-against-eu-services-directive. 2 http://www.weu.int/documents/920619peten.pdf.

51 MEANINGFUL CIVIL PARTICIPATION AND AN INDEPENDENT CIVIL SOCIETY — ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF OUR COMMON EUROPEAN FUTURE

Europe is our joint special project Massive protests, such as those based on liberal values, human rights, of the yellow vests in France, and fundamental freedoms. highlight the disconnect between policymakers and vulnerable citizens. Currently, in some contexts, the rise From a human rights perspective, of populist nationalism, ideologically social rights strengthen peace and motivated discrimination, and democracy. A sharp fall in the trust exclusionary narratives expressed placed by individuals in political in public spaces destabilise our systems of representative democracy vivre ensemble, or our ability to live primarily demonstrates that the together, and our relationship with social contract between those who ANNA RURKA others at all levels of society. are governed and those in power must be strengthened, protected, or, @anrurka In democratic states, civil society in some cases, even renegotiated. organisations play a key role in The solution should include greater fostering social cohesion by acting as a accessibility to public institutions bridge between different segments of and stronger civic participation, as Anna Rurka is President of the the population. Moreover, civil society proposed in the Conference of INGOs of the organisations collectively represent a Guidelines for civil participation in political force by acting as agents of Council of Europe. Rurka is also a political decision-making.3 A mutually change. Today, a lot of them are under Senior Lecturer at the University beneficial partnership with service- attack for that role. Stifling their voice Paris Nanterre, and Vice President oriented Civil Society Organisations has become a subtle exercise through of the European Committee for (CSOs) and sustainable civil society the (ab)use of legal regulations, such Home-based Priority Action for the funding mechanisms are important as those of the or the Child and the Family (EUROCEF). factors in the success of the overinterpretation of international multilateral framework. recommendations or standards like the guidelines1 of the on Fundamental Rights, or the joint OSCE/ODIHR and Venice Commission Guidelines on Freedom of Association.2

52 One can be certain their expertise both visible and It is only by listening to citizens transferrable. Connections with and considering minority interests that the final face of citizens and grassroots organisations that the public sector can adopt cannot be made via technological citizen-oriented policies and provide Europe will depend on tools alone – they should be made answers to their respective needs. by the people and for the people. In order to increase public trust and our collective effort, Technologies can help us better make accountable policies, this the strength of our understand the impact of our actions, voice and contribution through direct but they cannot replace our empathy citizen and civil society participation commitment to defend or sensitivity. We should not be afraid should be taken into account during of people whose nationality, religion, all stages of the decision-making liberal democracy, and and belief systems are different from process, including the design of our own. For that to happen, we need policy agendas. Improving access to a pluralistic and diverse to talk to one another and not simply information should be prioritised at the society that defines go our separate ways, following our central and local levels where citizen own interests. associations play an increasingly our relationship with important role in developing and Only together can individuals and providing public services. one other. CSOs improve democracy in a more efficient way. Every individual is fully There is still time to act before Europe responsible for exercising, respecting, arrives at the point of no return. Is We should bear in mind that and observing human rights on a its ability to reinvigorate itself not without guarantees for civil society daily basis. However, leaders have a one of the crucial characteristics of independence at the country specific duty in democratic debate to democracy? One can be certain that level, there is no guarantee that shed light on the challenges facing the final face of Europe will depend independent CSOs will participate at communities and groups in a manner on our collective effort, the strength the international level. Civil society that puts forward their positions of our commitment to defend liberal is self-governing. As such, we must without necessarily seeking to impose democracy, and a pluralistic and believe in its self-generating capacity. them upon the whole of society. diverse society that defines our However, in order to exist and further relationship with one other. The 2019 develop, civil society needs to see To make democratic institutions more European elections present a crucial that its actions bring about change. accessible and transparent, we should moment and a chance for the Europe not wait until they open themselves that we want to defend. Solidarity within Europe cannot up to us. We must question them, be achieved without civil society. oversee them, and exercise our Together with CSOs, public rightful democratic control. institutions should strengthen their responsiveness and make

1 https://www.venice.coe.int/WebForms/pages/?p=02_Rights&lang=EN. 2 https://www.osce.org/odihr/132371. 3 https://www.coe.int/en/web/civil-society/guidelines.

53 HEALTH OF DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE: BUILDING TRUST VIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Democracy is the best system of level ideal for participatory democracy: decision-making that exists in society. it ensures citizen participation in It has its faults, and we have to look public affairs and decision-making and at it critically. Democracy has made provides an excellent platform for the it back to the public agenda, and use of innovative practices and tools.1 it must be renewed. Thinking local and community decision-making The Treaty of Lisbon recognises the are key to reshaping our concept local autonomy of European local of democracy. Governments need authorities as a necessary criteria to reshape democracy to leave no in achieving a more democratic and one and no place behind, to give participatory Europe in a system of EMILIA SAIZ CARRANCEDO people the feeling that they can multi-level governance, elevating them to the category of essential future @UCLG_Saiz decide their future and influence actors. This is why the European Union @uclg_org how they live. Governments need to not only talk about participation but and the central governments must also re-shaping models. We need to draw on this trust in local government ask ourselves how we want to work, to rekindle democracy. Now more produce, and consume. This is a than ever, we must recognise local Emilia Saiz Carrancedo is dialogue that can only take place in democracy as a central pillar of Secretary General of United democratic societies. European democracy and consider Cities and Local Governments. the territorial network of municipalities She has worked with the The 2019 elections to the European as an asset to ensure a strengthened international movement of local Parliament take place at a crucial point democratic space and re-establish and regional governments in when we are witnessing the rise of trust in representative democracy. different capacities since 1998, hate speech and growing conflicts throughout the world. At stake is the Against this backdrop, local and focusing on capacity building, defence of democracy, European regional leaders are fighting to women’s participation in local integration, our humanist tradition, include more diverse voices in policy- decision-making, and enhancing and the rule of law. making and develop policies that the position and role of local respect human rights, foster gender governments before the UN. There is a growing loss of public equality, and combat discrimination. confidence in elections and democratic Reinvigorating confidence in our institutions, which has resulted in institutions requires putting our youth increasingly low abstention rates. The at the centre of decision-making, European Union’s 2018 Eurobarometer collaborating across all spheres of showed a fall in public confidence in government, and ensuring the full the main national political institutions. and active participation of women as However, the survey also found that agents of change. despite a general climate of mistrust in public affairs, there is a high level Several local and regional of trust (over 50%) in locally-elected governments have already adopted representatives. Mayors and councillors measures to promote participation, are the representatives closest to transparency, and accountability citizens. This makes the grassroots (e.g. neighbourhood assemblies

54 Now more than ever, we must recognise local democracy as a central pillar of European democracy and consider the territorial network of municipalities as an asset to ensure a strengthened democratic space and re-establish trust in representative democracy. in Barcelona and Paris Metropole governance by ensuring local and Along this vein, our constituency of meetings)2 and build territories that regional governments have both a local and regional governments in innovate and co-create services, strong voice and representation; and Europe – represented in the Council tools, and solutions together with their 5) strengthening and developing of European Municipalities and citizens. These actions are all battling spaces for local government and Regions (CEMR)5 and in United Cities the decrease in trust. community organisations to share, and Local Governments (UCLG)6 – is learn, and exchange. committed towards building a more From this perspective, there are democratic Europe from the bottom five fundamental elements that will Citizen confidence in the legitimacy up by developing learning systems, further help in achieving the above of institutions is crucial, but it is technical capacity exchanges, and objective: 1) strengthening local and equally crucial for public authorities to consultation mechanisms so as to regional government capacities on undertake political projects capable develop joint priorities and support the open government and designing legal of connecting with society. A bold work of the Community of Practice on and institutional frameworks that are plan – such as the 2030 Agenda – Transparency and Open Government.7 accompanied by sufficient human, that puts people at its centre of the The values promoted by the 2030 technical, and financial resources; political agenda is needed. This new Agenda and its complementarity 2) promoting governance models global framework fundamentally with the Open Government agenda (such as multilevel, public-private) reconceives the role of local and indicates that local and regional and legal frameworks that support regional governments and recognises governments are key to making this decentralisation; 3) promoting the their importance in solving major a reality. We should uphold these commitment and co-responsibility democratic, environmental, economic, values and see them as tools for the 3,4 of both political actors and citizens; and, social challenges. construction of a stable, sustainable, 4) fostering more democratic and inclusive, peaceful, and democratic transparent European and global future for Europe.

1 The Congress’ contribution to the reflection on the future of the Council of Europe (Helsinki Ministerial Session 16-17 may), Report, CG36(2019)08prov, 18 March 2019. Available at: https://search.coe.int/congress/pages/result_details.aspx?objectid=090000168093bfe1. 2 UCLG (2017). GOLD IV - Fourth Global Report on Decentralization and Local Democracy: Co-Creating. The Urban Future: the Agenda Of Metropolises, Cities And Territories. Available at: https://www.uclg.org/sites/default/files/goldiv_en.pdf. 3 UCLG and World Bank (2008). “Decentralization and local democracy in the world: first global report by United Cities and Local Governments”. Barcelona. 4 UCLG (2016). “Sustainable Development Goals: What local governments need to know”. Barcelona. 5 See http://www.ccre.org. 6 See http://www.uclg.org. 7 See http://opengov.uclg.org.

55 POLITICS — A PERSONAL AFFAIR, A PUBLIC AFFAIR

I am going to start with three different them. It was the absence of reflection frames that might seem out of that should have followed the young context. Frame one: it is 6:55am on people’s murders, together with the Monday, 26 February, 2018, when my overall state of the country, which sent phone buzzes with the message: “an people into the streets. investigative journalist and his fiancée have been murdered”. Frame two: it The long-lasting absence of a is 1:30am on Monday, 5 March 2018. reflective dialogue resulted in politics Seven young people are gathered being viewed as something not meant in a living room of a small apartment, for the ordinary person, let alone finalising a press release demanding something an ordinary person could JURAJ ŠELIGA an investigation and calling for a “new significantly impact. Sprinkled with a populistic fear of the unknown, such /juraj.seliga.9 trustworthy government”. They soberly sign the document. Frame three: it as migration, power was shifting is 5:15pm on Friday, 9 March 2018. from the hands of ordinary people to I am standing in a Bratislava square authoritarian alpha males. filled with nearly seventy thousand Juraj Šeliga is a civic activist The fallibility and unsustainability people. There are three steps in and lawyer. In March 2018, he of this kind of politics was clearly front of me and a microphone to the shown by the For a Decent Slovakia co-organized the gathering For left. A deep breath and a greeting to gatherings. Peaceful, determined, a Decent Slovakia, which led to the thousands – the gathering For a and non-violent, the demonstrations the founding of an initiative of Decent Slovakia is about to begin. called for citizen-centric politics. the same name, requesting an Politics, what authentically might be investigation into the murders of These frames are primarily personal. called “service”. This kind of reaction Ján Kuciak and Martina Kušnířová. Tossed right into the course of my nation’s history, I await my own may well be a response to the Šeliga also contributes to the reaction and that of the community. democratic deficit in current political Slovak news outlets SME and discourse and the winning streak of Dennik N. The brutality of Ján Kuciak’s and populists, linked to the rhetoric of fear Martina Kušnířová’s murders affected and hatred. large masses of people in Slovakia and abroad because they linked These challenges cannot be taken everyday innocent life with the power on by daily mass demonstrations. of the state. The murders revealed The answer lies in the incorporation how some politicians diminished of politics into people’s daily lives. politics. They viewed “politics” as Citizens are an active part of a an opportunity to acquire assets for community’s story and should themselves and for those close to participate in community dialogue.

56 This transition to authentic dialogue as the subsidiarity principle or the The ability to lead a requires further steps. It is clear that decentralisation of power.1 these must originate from both sides – dialogue — personal, citizens and the state – both of which Steps taken by the state should need to meet halfway. include the setting up of mechanisms community, and that engage citizens in the shaping The time has come, especially in of their environment. When using nationwide — in the post-communist countries, to get rid of the term ‘state’, we somehow think the mindset that politics only concerns of geographical borders, airports, times of social media our parliaments and is something dirty large cities, or mountains. However, and information overload and corruption-riddled. Politics is the talking about individuals and the state ability to develop ideas and solutions leads us to the idea that the state is our biggest challenge. that help make our lives and the lives primarily comprises our surroundings of those around us better. It is also the and the community we live in. It is ability to co-create and be part of a therefore the state’s job to ensure that their size, as fellow citizens and not as community that wishes for and realises communities, made up of individuals, marketing targets. such solutions. are heard and engaged. Methods used to achieve this should include Without bearers of change none Depending on the level of complexity, decentralisation, open dialogue will occur, and without change, no the variety of solutions, and the between citizens and institutions, as real bearers will come. The circle, size of the community, we can also well as an active education towards as old as democracy itself, is not talk about the degree of politics. broad common dialogue. closed, however. Quite the contrary, Yet, in principle, politics is also the it can be entered at any time. It is a ability to convince people about The ability to lead a dialogue – highly interpersonal matter filled with the necessity of home renovation, personal, community, and nationwide dialogue – the relationship between and the passing of laws that lead to – in the times of social media I and Thou and I and Us.2 Active road and highway renovations. The and information overload is our community dialogue is a way of key element here is not the difficulty biggest challenge. overcoming the crisis. A deep breath of the problem, but the authentic and a greeting to the thousands – this participation of individuals in finding This type of politics will naturally is a start of a dialogue that makes solutions, otherwise referred to bring about leaders or “politicians” public affairs personal and that allows who view communities, regardless of personal affairs to become public.

1 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/7/the-principle-of-subsidiarity. 2 http://www.the-philosophy.com/buber-i-thou-summary.

57 FROM ALGO-DEMOCRACY TO POLIS: RECLAIMING HUMAN PARTICIPATION IN A POST-HUMAN WORLD

In a rather ironic fashion, and without diversity. Instead, they are written etymological commonalities, the term to intensify the experience of social algo-democracy may simultaneously media users, extract data from refer to two things: a democracy that audiences, and produce value for the is heavily mediated by algorithms or platform owners and the businesses an ailing democracy. ‘Algo’ can either that develop around them. The stand for algorithm or pain.1 More often instrumentalisation of human-to- than not, it stands for both. human interaction through constant monetisation of surveillance, which st At the turn of the 21 century, the Shoshana Zuboff has described as Internet was seen as a boundless “the Big Other”,2 has a profound effect DR. PRODROMOS TSIAVOS space where humans could exercise on the ways in which we collectively their autonomy away from the @prodromos take decisions: it not only influences interference of governments and our social media behaviour, but private interests. Almost fifteen years also the way in which we choose ago, the vision of open government our governments. and inclusive democracy seemed Dr. Prodromos Tsiavos is Head imminent – an aim to be achieved of Digital Policy, Innovation and through the opening of data, the use Development at the Onassis of digital platforms, and e-voting. The It is only when we Foundation. emergence of social media platforms, as a global space for public discourse, understand how was originally hailed in the context of the Arab Spring and the Occupy algorithms work that we movements. The platforms were seen can assess their effect as instruments of liberation, which when combined with the reclaiming on public participation. of physical public space, could lead to regime change and the return to original forms of direct and inclusive The problems with the model of democracy. the Big Other are manifold: in an attention-driven economy, the Today, we know better. algorithm is incentivised to reinforce rather than challenge our opinions. If there is one certainty, it is that This leads to what is known as the algo-democracy does not only “echo chamber effect” which prohibits involve humans. It needs algorithms the essence of democracy from to operate. These algorithms are not emerging: public discourse is replaced necessarily designed to maximise by a conglomeration of enclosed participation, inclusiveness, or discussions of like-minded people that

58 do not interact with each other. For that operate digital platforms. We for Computing Machinery (ACM) each of them, their social circle – as currently have an idea of how it can Code of Ethics or the UK Data Ethics mediated by social media – is the be done: the General Data Protection Framework; Algorithmic Impact reality. Algo-democracy thus produces Regulation (GDPR) concerning Assessments, such as the ones a rhizome of enclosures rather algorithmic transparency with respect proposed by the European Parliament; than a Polis: by fragmenting public to personal data is a limited yet good the FTC or the ACM and other forms of dialogue into likeminded pieces, it starting point. The new EU Copyright self-regulation and reflexive regulation nurtures extremism under the guise of Directive3 requiring digital platforms may contribute to identifying solutions radicalism, increases segregation, and to clear copyrights before they share that increase transparency and prevents citizens from identifying the content so as to ensure equitable accountability in the operation of points they have in common. and fair information dissemination is algorithmic systems. another limited but equally important Is there something we can do example. Finally, the European Overall, there is no one-size-fits-all about this? Commission and Federal Trade approach. However, we have the Commission (FTC) fines to FANGs4 beginnings of a solution, provided we Reclaiming collective human violating competition law, with all their are willing to take the necessary steps subjectivity is a good starting point. limited effect and ex-post operation, to implement it. The youthfulness and This means that, above all else, we are a good illustration of imposing vigour of Athenian democracy was, need to have a better understanding sanctions when competition law and, to a large extent, the result of the of how algorithms operate. Algorithmic hence, market openness is violated to demos having a sense of ownership transparency should be the first the detriment of both business players of the polis, of developing a collective priority of our digital Polis. It is only and consumers. subjectivity through a process of when we understand how algorithms public discussion, open participation, work that we can assess their effect Practically, we need to develop and collective decision making. If we on public participation. mechanisms for understanding wish to make our algo-democracy and making use of algorithmic truly democratic, we will need to This is not an easy task legally transparency in a meaningful reclaim this human subjectivity. or practically. and functional way. The Creative This will not happen through a Legally, we need to introduce Commons experience demonstrates neo-luddite abolition of algorithms, legislation that requires transparency, that complex legal documents, such as but rather a consistent global effort accountability, and participation, copyright licences, may be simplified towards algorithmic transparency, not just on the part of governments, through the use of icons and with corporate accountability, and inclusive but also global private entities the aid of software. Various Codes human participation. of Ethics, such as the Association

1 “Algea (Ancient Greek: ’�Aλγεα; singular: ’�Aλγος) is used by Hesiod in the plural as the personification of pain, both physical and mental.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algos. 2 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2594754. 3 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/04/15/eu-adjusts-copyright-rules-to-the-digital-age/. 4 Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google.

59 EMPOWERING CIVIL SOCIETY FOR BETTER CONTROL OVER DIGITAL PLATFORMS

The emergence of the World Wide While our governing institutions have Web almost 30 years ago profoundly started the necessary transformation transformed our societies by allowing to allow for an enhanced public billions of people across the world to oversight, new opaque actors, connect and exchange information; sometimes manipulators or opening up new ways of thinking and criminals, have emerged with the empowering civil society to monitor advent of the digital revolution. governments, uncover corruption, Today, billions of people experience overthrow dictators, and even the Web only through a limited strengthen democracy. number of enormous privately- owned companies, built with the HENRI VERDIER In fact, free and open access to the objective of maximising their profits Web has become so crucial today @HenriVerdier within the new Attention economy. that the United Nations Human @AmbNum Rights Council recognises internet To be clear, we should not be access as a fundamental human right advocating for a shift in the and affirms that “the Internet is one objectives of these companies. of the most powerful instruments Although it is important to recognise Henri Verdier is an entrepreneur of the 21st century for increasing the contribution of these companies and digital specialist, and is transparency in the conduct of the in helping our democracies adapt currently Ambassador for Digital powerful, access to information, and for to the new paradigm of open Affairs of the Government of facilitating active citizen participation government, it is not their role to France. Prior to this, he has held in building democratic societies.” This reshape the social frameworks of several positions in the public potential for increased transparency our political commitments. Instead, if sector including Chief Technology has empowered civil society to we are to reinvigorate our European profoundly reshape the way in which democracies and restore trust in our Officer, Chief Data Officer and we understand democracy at a time institutions, we need to challenge the Head of Etalab. Before joining the where nearly 80% of the world’s status quo and re-politicise – in the public sector, Henri was CEO of population can read and write. It has most noble sense – the collective MFG Labs, a startup involved in also helped create the underlying trust definition of our social values. In other social data mining. in our institutions and social cohesion, words, computation should never thereby allowing our democracies to replace the political life of a community remain strong under pressure. as the basis for governance.

60 It is now time to apply The first step to reinvigorate In the past decades, we have democracy in Europe is therefore to collectively understood, as stated by the core principles of agree, at the EU level, on a new legal Karl Popper,1 that an open society can framework imposing a much higher be brought about only if the individual open government — level of transparency on these actors. citizen is able to critically evaluate the This obligation of transparency will consequences of the implementation transparency, social enable civil society to co-create, of government policies, which can participation, and alongside the brightest minds from the then be abandoned or modified in the business, technological, government, light of such scrutiny. It is now time accountability — to the and academic sectors, the tools to apply the core principles of open required to tackle the threats to government – transparency, social giant tech firms. political freedom. participation, and accountability – to the giant tech firms and empower An initial measure towards civil society through the use of our Indeed, if free and open access to transparency was recently taken collective intelligence and to critically the internet is a fundamental human with the signature of a pledge by evaluate the consequences of certain right, then we cannot allow a handful social media platforms to improve codes and algorithms. This is essential of platforms to build the codes and the scrutiny of their online political to achieve a new equilibrium of algorithms that will ultimately define advertisement placements. However, democracy and rebuild trust in our which opinions or ideas are shared this is far from being sufficient and institutions across Europe. and what values should be protected some companies have been very slow or banned. These decisions should be in implementing the measures they taken in complete transparency and agreed to. Instead, the new regulatory after collective social participation, framework needs to impose much at an institutional level, enabling stricter transparency requirements that both governments and civil society should also be extended to certain to hold these firms accountable for algorithms used by these platforms. their actions. France is committed to pushing some of these measures during its G7 presidency this summer.

1 Thornton, Stephen, “Karl Popper”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2018 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2018/entries/popper/.

61 IMPROVING GOVERNMENT RESPONSIVENESS AS A WAY OF REGAINING CITIZEN'S TRUST AND WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE

There are no shortcuts in the fight to During my leadership of the Croatian increase citizens’ trust in institutions Government’s efforts in transforming and their willingness to participate. It practices of public consultations is everyday work that requires tireless and policy dialogue with CSOs and energy and vigilance in listening to citizens, we witnessed a striking and understanding the public and phenomenon of an almost 5000% responding to received policy inputs. increase in citizens’ comments on This is one of the main lessons I new legislative initiatives in just three have drawn from my seventeen-year years. In addition to other intervening experience of promoting a more factors during that period – such enabling environment for civil society as having more open government IGOR VIDAČAK development and strengthening strategies with more proactive /igorvidacak/ relationships between citizens, CSOs, communication of public consultations /igor.vidacak.98 and governments. through social media – the marked increase in willingness to participate When reflecting on the root causes was indisputably linked to a significant of the lack of citizen participation in improvement of the quality of the the EU, my first intuitive reaction is institutional response to inputs Igor Vidačak is a university that the crisis of trust in institutions received in drafting legal and policy professor at the Faculty of Political is directly related to the crisis of acts. When all government bodies Science at the University of institutional responsiveness, primarily started to publish detailed reports Zagreb. He is an experienced at the national level. The remedies to on the results of public consultations, international consultant focused this crisis need to be sought mainly with personalised, elaborate, and on civic participation, open in changing the manner in which the well-argued responses to every citizen policy-making and building governments of EU member states or organisation on why their policy accommodate public policy inputs on cross-sector partnerships for inputs were not accepted, the interest a daily basis. social change. Igor also held in taking part in public consultations the position of Director of the started to grow radically. Croatian Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs. Building government capacity in conducting meaningful and effective public consultations and leading open and inclusive policy dialogue is an essential investment in the health of our democracies.

62 The impact of institutional response servants from all government bodies, governments has helped me to policy inputs from online and offline in less than three years. realise how strongly the health of consultations on future participation EU democracy and consistency in of citizens and interest groups is still Building government capacity in safeguarding EU fundamental values an under-researched topic. There is conducting meaningful and effective correlates with the credibility of the EU as yet not enough empirical evidence public consultations and leading open in advancing essential rule of law and to suggest that users who receive and inclusive policy dialogue is an democratic reforms in the immediate personalised responses to their essential investment in the health of EU neighbourhood - amongst both the inputs, are more motivated to continue our democracies. current and potential candidates for participating in future policy debates. EU membership. In addition to online interactions, we However, Croatian experience and also need more direct one-on-one feedback from users shows that a Governments of the EU member states opportunities for national government personalised institutional response to need to start leading by example officials (but also MEPs and other contributions may increase trust in the when it comes to safeguarding civic representatives of EU institutions) meaningfulness of the process and space and enabling meaningful public to have in-person conversations enhance the willingness of citizens participation in decision-making with members of local communities. and organisations to contribute to processes. This requires time on Officials also need to respond to the policy making processes. behalf of public officials, citizens, and needs and issues raised by citizens CSOs alike. Deeper relationships and Despite an obvious administrative and their associations in the different mutual trust can develop even from a burden, this practice of personalised phases of agenda-setting, formulation short five-minute conversation. institutional responses has been or implementation of different policies. integrated into the central online The proposal of the EU’s new Rights Most of us feel frustrated and worried 1 platform for e-consultations, which and Values Programme should about the direction that our countries has been used by fifty Croatian not only offer more opportunities and the EU as a whole, are taking. government bodies, generating to build innovative and creative The way to move forward needs to be continuous increase of new users, models of citizen engagement and based on creating a more favourable and making Croatian “e-savjetovanja” participation, but also to improve the environment for the work and platform a real success story. responsiveness of EU member states development of a vibrant civil society Improving and maintaining the quality to citizens’ and CSO inputs as a crucial and an independent media, and on of institutional responsiveness precondition for mutual trust-building. nurturing proactive transparency and has required strong central policy open data policies. Most of all, the My recent experience of leading coordination, and more than eighty way forward needs to begin with one EU technical assistance projects training sessions for hundreds of civil conversation at a time. supporting Western Balkans

1 https://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-establishing-the-rights-and-values-programme/.

63 DOES THE EU WANT WHAT ITS NEIGHBOURS NEED?

Soft power works when a country or pro- regime, when all people a bloc of countries “gets others to really want is an honest government want what it wants”.1 For the European that puts in place economic policies Union (EU) to succeed with soft that promote sustained prosperity. power, as coined by Joseph Nye, key That priority overrides citizens’ stakeholders in aspirant members preferences for particular foreign of the club, and in neighbouring policy orientations. countries, must first find the EU’s culture and ideology both attractive The attraction of closer integration and legitimate. with the EU should be obvious – from access to markets to the freedom JEFF LOVITT Well before that, however, opinion- to travel, study, and even work in shapers in the respective countries EU countries – but the benefits of @jefflovitt have to come to terms with the democratisation, strengthening of @newdiplomacynet prevailing and emerging trends in the rule of law, and justice for all are political and cultural identity at home. valid even without the perspective of EU membership. The pendulum of political popularity Jeff Lovitt is a member of the OGP has rarely been as volatile as today, This is why the focus of the EU and its International Experts Panel (IEP), where we see new political forces neighbours should be on sustained Chair of New Diplomacy emerge overnight and sweep to good governance, democratic (www.newdiplomacy.net), power, such as Nikol Pashinyan practices, and institutions for the long in and now Volodymyr term – regardless of any timetable for and the editor of a Council Zelenskiy in . Some EU membership. Sticks and carrots of Europe series of studies anti-establishment movements are run the risk of sparking counter- on Civil Participation in targeting corrupt elites and calling for movements channelling frustration Political Decision-Making. more accountability to citizens, but with protracted EU membership efforts others are promoting intolerance and into a more nationalist, inward-looking the rejection of the full participation politics. This phenomenon is partially of minority groups in society. In some evident in the politics of President countries, the volatility reflects a crisis Recep Tayyip Erdogan in and of trust in democracy, and even more of Milorad Dodik in the Serb-majority so in governments per se. entity of .

In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Indeed, the confidence to combine hopes for more democracy were an embrace of democracy with dashed in many countries. In the preservation of traditions, such as Western Balkans and, more recently, religion, can avert what Ivan Krastev in , we have seen EU-oriented has called the “return to tradition” political parties become increasingly following the disappointment of dominated by corrupt oligarchs and the quest for, or imitation of, the a false choice posed to citizens “normality” that the EU was of a pro-EU government versus a perceived to embody.2

64 Trust in the EU varies significantly in are the most dissatisfied (81%). Only in political institutions and the wider the EU’s neighbourhood. In Morocco one in four Eastern Partnership political spectrum. 64% trust the EU, in Jordan the figure citizens trust the parliament and one is 60%, and in Algeria 49%, whereas in in three the government. In another The development of the fourth Tunisia only 39 % do so.3 nod to the importance of the social OGP Action Plan in Armenia gained cohesion aspect of tradition, religious pace after Pashinyan became As part of its Open Government authorities appear to be the only ones Prime Minister. According to Tatevik Partnership (OGP) strategy, Morocco towards whom trust outweighs distrust Margaryan, “civil society launched is focusing on the younger generation (57% versus 34%).6 a large scale awareness-raising and and building a digital presence to consultation”, driven by “renewed improve access to information and In the Western Balkans, the least energy in the country brought by the citizen participation in government. trusted institution is the parliament change of government”. The general Out of the 18 commitments in the (28%), followed by the courts (30%) belief in the political will to reform “has 7 Moroccan 2018-2020 National Action and the executive (31%). generated much-needed enthusiasm Plan, six are digital initiatives.4

In Tunisia, the lower level of trust in the EU might be counterintuitive as “for many Tunisians, the EU and A more hard-hitting approach from the EU should its member states still represent a put open government and transparent justice at the model to be achieved”, argues Cengiz Günay.5 However, Günay makes a heart of the agenda. point that resonates with Krastev’s allusion to the need for locally owned democratic development. In Armenia, protester-turned-prime to contribute ideas on how to make “Over-reliance on Western/ minister Nikol Pashinyan has stressed the government more responsive to European guidance has thwarted the time and again that he is “accountable citizens’ needs”, resulting in a more advancement of independent and directly to the people”. Pashinyan’s ambitious Action Plan, driven by the creative home-grown approaches and direct approach – calling hundreds crowdsourcing of ideas from all ten 8 solutions to domestic challenges.” of thousands of Armenians to regions in Armenia. gather in public squares to prompt The EU is the only foreign institution the resignation of the previous The fourth OGP Action Plan of North trusted by the majority of citizens government – is mirrored by Zoran Macedonia is supplemented by an in the six Eastern Partnership Zaev, the Prime Minister of North Action Plan for the Parliament, which countries (61% in 2018). The EU Macedonia, who staked everything on includes a commitment to improve enjoys the highest levels of trust in resolving his country’s name dispute citizen participation in the Assembly’s (73%) and Armenia (70%). with Greece and then put the result to legislative and supervisory process. the people in a referendum. Although Around two-thirds of Moldovans and Apart from Skopje, the Western the result was far from assured, like Ukrainians also trust the EU. Balkans is awash with tense political Pashinyan, Zaev did not wait for divisions. , , and In contrast, two-thirds of citizens are international actors to set the agenda. have been witnessing mass not satisfied with the way democracy Both countries face huge challenges, works in their country. Moldovans including the need to sustain trust CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

65 demonstrations by opposition forces A more hard-hitting approach from This should be complemented by every weekend for much of 2019, the EU should put open government international support to democratic albeit led by opposition leaders that and transparent justice at the heart of actors in bringing citizens into inspire little confidence amongst the agenda. Local experts should be participatory decision-making the population. trained and empowered to develop processes – to hold authorities to solutions that will work in the local account and to monitor reforms in the To rebuild trust, citizens must above context. International support could justice system. Civil society actors all be confident that the justice system take the form of secondment of who undertake this effort must also is not marred by corruption and experts who have taken centre-stage go beyond capital cities in gaining political manipulation. in turning around justice systems the public’s trust, including in more in other countries, but the principal tradition-bound communities. Much Effective anti-corruption agencies, outcome must be solutions that inspire like the EU, civil society must start by supported by independent trust because they are tailored to the “getting others to want what it wants”. prosecutors and judges, are a top local context and local priorities. EU priority, which in turn makes it a priority where the local needs and donor priorities converge.

1 Nye, J. (1990). . In Foreign Policy. See: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1148580?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents. 2 Krastev, I. (2017). After Europe. University of Pennsylvania Press: Pennsylvania. 3 Stantec (2019). Communication for a Stronger Partnership: Connecting with Citizens Across the Southern Neighbourhood. Opinion Poll. Third Wave Report. 4 https://www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/ogp-morocco-digital-agenda. 5 European Institute of the Mediterranean. (2019). The New-Old Elites and their Relations with the EU: The Cases of Egypt and Tunisia. See: https://www.euromesco.net/publication/the-new-old-elites-and-their-relations-with-the-eu-the-cases-of-egypt-and-tunisia/. 6 ECORYS (2018). Annual Survey Report. EaP Regional Overview – 3rd Wave. 7 Regional co-operation council (2018). Balkan Barometer 2018: Public Opinion Survey. See: https://www.rcc.int/pubs/66/balkan-barometer-2018-public-opinion-survey. 8 https://www.opengovpartnership.org/stories/building-on-momentum-co-creation-insights-armenia.

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