Disseminating and collecting information

Municipalities’ Communicative Practices and Deliberative Capacities

Bibliographic Data

ID6303085
AuthorsAndré Baltz (0000-0002-1310-009X, Umeå University, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume48
Issue1
Pages48-67
Publication date2022-01-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLocal Government Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0300-3930 • E-ISSN: 1743-9388
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03003930.2021.1909575
OpenAlexW3141778127
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited27

This paper aims to critically explore how citizen dialogues are perceived by the municipalities and public servants who implement them. The question is answered using a multi-method approach: a content analysis of 213 self-reports on citizen dialogues from Swedish municipalities and 11 in-depth interviews with public servants working with citizen dialogues in a Swedish municipality. The findings show that citizen dialogues were thought of along three main narratives: information gathering, informing, and inclusion. Together, these narratives indicated a will to enhance informed decision-making. However, combining informed decision-making is with broad participation poses challenges; the authority had to delimit participation, establish structures, educate, define citizens and adapt existing working methods to external stakeholders. The three narratives address this adaptation

Adaptation (eye · Citizen journalism · Dissemination · Inclusion (mineral · Linguistics · Narrative · Political science · Public participation · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · E-Government and Public Services · Psychology · Public Policy and Administration Research · Social Media and Politics

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Open DOIOpen Access