Dealing with Power in Organisation & Governance

Description

Commissioning institutions and organisers are actors who mediate power in citizen assemblies. This is particularly critical when CCAs are commissioned by state institutions, as they tend to follow an inherent rationale, often conditioned by the dependency on the market economy and its lobbies. What they consider acceptable or not constitutes the corridor within which assemblies operate. Against this backdrop, facilitators are hired, committee members and advisers are selected, objectives and briefings are defined, assembly sessions and formats are planned, and support for participants, outreach, and follow-up are organised. This shapes the agenda, discourse, and outcomes. Additionally, dominant societal attitudes and dynamics come into play. E.g., scientists should be motivated to contribute, but the academic system does not incentivise such engagement. Moreover, due to their specialisation, many scientists are unable to contribute to broad issues. All this is subject to framings that determine what can be legitimately discussed and done. The interplay of self-empowering participants and well-networked (social movement) groups can counter these tendencies and widen the space of manoeuvre. Also, an oversight group of independent experts and civil society representatives can safeguard independence and openness.

How-To & Examples

In Catalonia a formal oversight group (Grup Motor) of independent experts and civil society representatives accompanied the process from design to completion, safeguarding procedural integrity. KNOCA guidance: governance of climate assemblies, Report on set-up and facilitation of Climate Assemblies, p.29

In South Tyrol the local Scientists for Future were able to influence the composition of the Expert Advisory Board, thanks to their network woven over years that goes across (research) institutions and the climate movement. Furthermore participants were included into oversight bodies (e.g., steering committees or advisory boards) to redistribute decision-making power. Being aware of possible power distributions created by the practicalities of the assembly . Taking this into consideration, in the Belfast Codesign Framework Belfast Codesign Framework participants did not wear lanyards (Belfast Codesign Framework https://yoursay.belfastcity.gov.uk/a-co-design-framework-for-belfast), pp. 30,31.

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