On 14 and 15 November, Focus hosted an inspiring INCITE-DEM Democracy Lab in Ljubljana. This lively, hands-on two-day event brought together 30 citizens, representatives of democratic initiatives, and policymakers to explore ways to make democracy more inclusive, participatory, and effective. Through dialogue, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, participants reimagined democratic processes to better reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.
The Democracy Lab created a safe space for participants to engage with real-world challenges and co-create actionable solutions that would make democracy work for sustainability. The enthusiasm of the participants helped to create a bridge between citizens, initiatives and policy-makers. This innovative approach not only fostered inclusivity but also aimed to deepen engagement with democratic systems.
The Democracy Lab featured three core activities, each tailored to spark creativity and inspire solutions to today’s democratic challenges. The first activity was so called ‘Sensemaking’, whereby the participants shared and analysed their previous experiences in participating in democratic processes and plotted them against a few key principles of democratic participation, such as inclusivity, citizen control, transparency, dialogue or legitimacy.
In the second activity, the so called ‘Provotyping’, the 6 groups of the Democracy Lab explored how to best involve a variety of stakeholders into decision-making processes, by answering questions, such as ‘How do you want to be involved?’, ‘How should your input be handled?’, ‘At what stage?’ and ‘Who should listen?’. Based on a Norwegian case (local decision-making process for a ski facility), the discussion revolved around citizen involvement, ways to ensure involvement in a timely manner, ensuring efficient access to information and ensuring a high level of transparency.
In the final activity, the so called ‘Collective Dreaming’, participants tried to envision the future of democracy by co-creating ideas for democratic innovations, which would lead towards more inclusivity, participation, transparency and shared values. Participants discussed about the ideal ways to involve citizens and civil society in decision-making, coming up with a variety of ideas how to enhance community engagement. The ideas, which the 6 groups created, were turned into stories, which explained their potential for improving democracy and brought the ideas into life.
Impressions from the Democracy Lab
Participants expressed enthusiasm about the experience, highlighting its collaborative and forward-thinking nature:
- Urška Breznik, a long-time democratisation activist: “The Democracy Lab was one of the few opportunities to discuss not only within the framework of the representative democracy, but also alternative forms of democracy. I found it very liberating because we saw from people from different parts of Slovenia that there are already some good practical examples and that we all tend to understand both the realms of economics and politics as commons. It’s interesting that the imagination of what could be is expanding, and it’s up to us to start thinking about how to make these ideas a reality”.
- Citizen Zlata Bela: “A unique experience. So many different people talking about the same issues, but we got similar answers. It seems to me that we all have a tendency to unite and participate in society. This way of working and communicating about democratic ideas should be introduced to neighbourhood councils and schools”.
- Matic Primc from the Maribor Initiative Citywide assembly: “It was interesting to see how people from different walks of life, gathered in this space, imagine the democratic processes we would like to see in society. And how different that is from what we actually have in society. And then you wonder why these differences exist. But the most important thing for me is the energy I’ve got, because often you feel lonely when you try change something in the society, but today I’ve seen that such ideas are quite widespread”.
- Petra Peternel, member of the Centre for Alternative and Autonomous Productions: “The Democracy Lab broadened the horizon of my own reflection and allowed me to see things from a different perspective. It often happens to us NGOs that we work in closed circles, talking in a very specialised way and forgetting about the ordinary citizen. It is easy to lose optimism after all the work in the sector, but I have seen new generations coming up and being even more enthusiastic and committed. We really need change and I see that there are a lot of opportunities to build on. I’ve met some wonderful people and good ideas and I’d be sorry if I didn’t let them into my life.
The co-creation continues
Ljubljana Democracy Lab was one in the line of 6 Democracy Labs and as such brought some important puzzles into the mosaic that will be created by INCITE-DEM project to foster democratic innovation and participation. As part of the INCITE-DEM project, this initiative will continue to inspire meaningful change in how democracy serves the people.
