Cultivating Political Efficacy

Facilitation as a Catalyst for Democratic Education and Civic Competence

Bibliographic Data

ID6434057
AuthorsNatalia Villaman (0000-0001-9799-5558, University of Helsinki, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume21
Issue1
Pages1-20
Publication date2024-08-26
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Civil Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1744-8689 • E-ISSN: 1744-8697
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17448689.2024.2390054
OpenAlexW4401889236
LanguageEN
References cited32

Participation in democratic processes is a cornerstone for good governance and societal trust. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and academic literature emphasize enhancing civic engagement to foster democracy, shape policies, and build societal trust. Within this context, the concept of facilitation gains prominence as a vital mechanism that enhances participatory inclusivity and better decision-making through capacity-building. However, the current scope of facilitation is limited, mainly emphasizing its role as a skill for democratic engagement but neglecting its capacity to confront declining political efficacy. To address this oversight, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of facilitation in the context of democratic participation and political efficacy. Conducting a systematized review of 54 publications, the paper contributes significantly to the largely underexplored domain of facilitation theory. The study's findings offer a nuanced understanding of facilitation's role in democratic engagement. Far from just serving as a tool for managing interpersonal relations, the data demonstrate that facilitation is primarily employed to navigate process conflicts concerning agency, power, and responsibility. Furthermore, the data highlights a significant link between facilitation practice and increased internal and external political efficacy. These insights position facilitation as a crucial catalyst for democratic education, playing a key role in fostering a more engaged and resilient democratic society

Competence (human resources · Context (archaeology · Corporate governance · Democracy · Economics · Facilitation · Management · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Sociology · Law · Psychology · Public Policy and Administration Research · Social Capital and Networks · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology

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Open DOIOpen Access