The Integrity of Democratic Innovations: Advancing the Debate

Abstract

Integrity is critical to democratic governance, yet the concept is interpreted and applied in myriad ways. Electoral integrity is monitored worldwide to ensure that elections are free, fair, and competitive. Monitory institutions or watchdog bodies have been institutionalized to scrutinize abuses of power (Keane 2009). In the field of democratic innovations however, debates around the integrity do not orient towards global norms since there is no single agreed standard for their conduct and evaluation. Furthermore, debates have developed along different trajectories. There have been some advanced discussions around this topic, with divergent views on the implications of introducing standards (Mann et al 2014). Literature on evaluation (e.g. Gastil, Knobloch and Kelly 2012; OECD 2021) and the professionalization of public participation (Bherer, Gautier and Simard 2017; Christensen and Grant 2020; Lee 2014) holds valuable insights on integrity, but the concept remains underdeveloped. Within the study of deliberative mini-publics, discussions about ethics and integrity have yet to be mainstreamed. Within other areas of democratic innovation, debates on integrity are more advanced and have reflected on the elements of empowerment and control (e.g Goldfrank 2021). This panel brings together scholars from across sub-fields to foster a critical and reflective dialogue on the integrity of democratic innovations. Our aim is to provide a space for learning and exchange across different strands of participation, including the following themes: • What makes an ethical democratic innovation? • What risks do different forms of democratic innovations face when it comes to upholding ethical conduct? • How can we conceptualise the integrity of democratic innovations? • Should there be mechanisms of standardizing or monitoring the integrity of democratic innovations? Theoretical, methodological, and practice-oriented papers are welcome from advocates, critics, scholars, and practitioners of democratic innovations. References Bherer, L., Gauthier, M., and Simard, L. (Eds.). (2017). The professionalization of public participation. London: Routledge. Christensen, H. E., and Grant, B. (2020). Outsourcing local democracy? Evidence for and implications of the commercialisation of community engagement in Australian local government. Australian Journal of Political Science, 55(1), 20-37. Gastil, J., Knobloch, K. and Kelly, M. (2012) Evaluating deliberative events and projects. In Nabatchi, T., Gastil, J., Leighninger, M. and Weiksler, M.G. Eds. (2012). Democracy in Motion: Evaluating the Practice and Impact of Deliberative Civic Engagement. Oxford University Press. Goldfrank, B. (2021). Inclusion with power? Limits of participatory institutions. In Kapiszewski, D. Levitsky, S. and Yashar, D. (2021). The Inclusionary Turn in Latin American Democracies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Keane, J. (2009). Monitory democracy and media-saturated societies. Griffith Review, (24), 47-69. Mann, C., Voß, J., Amelung, N., Simons, A., Runge, T. and Grabner, L. (2014). Challenging futures of citizen panels: critical issues for robust forms of public participation. Innovation in Governance Research Group. Lee, C. W. (2014). Do-it-yourself democracy: The rise of the public engagement industry. Oxford: Oxford University Press. OECD (2021). Evaluation Guidelines for Representative Deliberative Processes. Paris: OECD.

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