Participation

Possess to Participate

Possess to Participate

Some terms are like scalpels: cold, sharp, precise. Then there are terms like large handbags: you can put a lot of stuff into them. The terms ‘partaking’ and ‘taking part’ seem to resemble a Black Forest Cake: rich in tradition, complex and nutritious. This is to be considered when analysing the term. By Bernd Draser, translated from German by Stefan Helwig and Simon Varga read more
When Citizens participate

When Citizens participate

Civic participation, dialogue forums and referendums have been widely discussed, at least since Stuttgart 21 (a public opposition movement against the redevelopment of the Stuttgart central station) and since the mayor of Duisburg was voted out of office. Under public pressure, parties, associations, and enterprises are more and more frequently involving citizens, neighbours or affected persons in decision-making processes. However, most politicians and businessmen still consider this form of participation an incalculable risk. Only few of them see it as an opportunity. By Simon Wiggen. Translated from the German by Christin Brauer, Nadja Gröner and Lea Schiefen read more
Using Shares to Survive the Crisis

Using Shares to Survive the Crisis

In the days of a globalized economy and the euro crisis, investments are a nightmare for many people. Just recently, the German Institute for Economic Research insisted that the national Riester supplementary retirement plan should be abolished, as it made sense only for those who lived beyond the age of 90. Where is it possible today to invest reasonably and safely? By Christine Ax. Translated from the German by Eunike Bawarska and Katarzyna Piaseka read more
Mikrokredite helfen. Oder nicht?

Mikrokredite helfen. Oder nicht?

Eines ist sicher: Für die Teilhabe am gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Leben benötigen Menschen Geld. Mikrokredite sollen dort helfen, wo Kleinunternehmer und insbesondere Frauen nicht genügend davon haben. Damit können sie Armut lindern, aber auch Abhängigkeiten vergrößern. Ein Pro und Contra. read more
Nutzen statt Besitzen - ein neues Geschäftsmodell, oder was?

Nutzen statt Besitzen - ein neues Geschäftsmodell, oder was?

Mit der Share-Economy erhält die Wirtschaft des Teilens, des Nutzens statt des Besitzens von Dingen einen klingenden Namen. Welche Hoffnungen dahinter stecken, erläutert Klaus Dosch in seinem Standpunkt. read more
Fairphone im Test: So komfortabel ist das soziale Smartphone

Fairphone im Test: So komfortabel ist das soziale Smartphone

Fairphone First Edition steht auf dem stabilsten Akkudeckel der Welt: Ordentlich liegt es in der Hand und macht alles, was ein Smartphone heute können muss. Obwohl es nicht mit den High-End-Geräten konkurrieren kann und will, hat das Fairphone schon jetzt einiges für Menschen und Umwelt bewirkt. Von Ralf Bindel read more

Participation – Sharing for a Bigger Share

A Dobos-Cake, quite similar to a Black-Forest-Cake but with more parts

Despots are losing their power, pirates are taking over, citizens who feel politically marginalised are protesting, and everyone is taking part in the energy transition. Participation is a rediscovered measure for more democracy in the second millennium. Whether it be Occupy Wall Street or the occupation of other public spaces, open data or individuals with their own rooftop systems: more and more people in affluent societies worldwide feel excluded from decisions that have a major influence on their lives and their future.

The gap between those making decisions and those not benefiting from these decisions is widening. The end of participatory capitalism, the welfare of all through continuous growth, is becoming more and more obvious to most people in the industrialised countries. Even those in the developing countries who are left behind see no basis for their future in the currently utilized model.

Instead of going on as before without considering alternatives, people are starting to resist. The right to participate, to have a bigger piece of the cake, to be able to determine the size and flavour of this piece of cake as well is what people are calling for. And they are beginning to increase the pressure on governments through public disobedience or initiatives. It is because history has been shaped by people striving for participation that conditions for participation are possible in the first place. And yet, these conditions fall short of securing the livelihood of everyone within the scope of the necessary sustainable development.

However, encouraging ecological, economic and social participation is actually the key to more equality between and across generations. After all, this was the approach at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. What has become of this approach is visible today. We, the publishers, authors, editors, and graphic designers hope that this magazine succeeds in outlining how we all can achieve more by participating.

Ralf Bindel, Editor. Translated from the German by Sophia Benkewitz and Stefan Helwig.

More articles to the range of subjects participation, partaking and involvement can be found not only online but also in our magazine Partaking & Taking Part. Nicely illustrated and readable on tablet computers and monitors the PDF magazine contains all posts and photos as well as additional figures and quotes.

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Participation

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