Healthier Democracies: The Case Studies
The challenges of national democratic engagement are deep and wide. It can be overwhelming to address the multiple factors that influence participation and government systems for connecting with citizens at a large scale, and difficult to measure the impact of an individual intervention in a sea of variables. As part of Healthier Democracies, we looked at the distinct ways that local and regional governments could effectively pilot and grow engagement efforts. We believe that the keys to building democratic engagement on a national and international level may be found in these local and regional models.
Within each case study, you will find the icons corresponding to the relevant areas of exemplary modes of engagement as laid out in the Participatory Governance Index:
Engagement structures: patterned or organized opportunities for engagement that support cross-sector and government-community collaborations
Commitment to engagement: investment in engagement as a core value that guides efforts to promote participation
Opportunities for engagement: participation that is normalized and embedded into decision-making and that guides citizen-centered governance strategies
Community building: engagement processes that foster meaningful connections between and within communities
Local Case Studies
The array of local cases in this project spans a wide range of cultural and geographical contexts. Each of them arose from specific immediate issues, and grew out of previous efforts - both successful and unsuccessful - to build engagement. Click the links below to view more about each case study.
Regional Case Studies
Regional efforts to grow participatory engagement are much more rare and challenging. Each of the case studies in this area built on successful local or national initiatives and created opportunities for connected systems of government and civil society. Click the links below to view more about each case study.