Data

General Issues
Planning & Development
Collections
OECD Project on Representative Deliberative Processes
The POLITICIZE Project on Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe
Location
Thuringia
Germany
Scope of Influence
Regional
Links
Planning Cell on Administrative, Functional, and Territorial Reform in Thuringia
OECD Project Page for Innovative Citizen Participation
Bürgergutachten zur Verwaltungs-, Funktional- und Gebietsreform in Thüringen
Gut gedacht - aber schlecht gemacht
POLITICIZE Project
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Approach
Consultation
Spectrum of Public Participation
Consult
Total Number of Participants
72
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Limited to Only Some Groups or Individuals
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Stratified Random Sample
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
Planning
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Recruit or select participants
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Deliberation
Civic Lottery
Planning Cells
Legality
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Face-to-Face
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Decision Methods
Voting
Communication of Insights & Outcomes
Public Report
Type of Organizer/Manager
For-Profit Business
Funder
Budget of the Thuringian Ministry of Interior and Municipal Affairs
Type of Funder
Regional Government
Formal Evaluation
Yes

CASE

Planning Cell on Administrative, Functional, and Territorial Reform in Thuringia

April 1, 2021 Jaskiran Gakhal, Participedia Team
November 13, 2020 Jaskiran Gakhal, Participedia Team
October 4, 2020 Joyce Chen
General Issues
Planning & Development
Collections
OECD Project on Representative Deliberative Processes
The POLITICIZE Project on Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe
Location
Thuringia
Germany
Scope of Influence
Regional
Links
Planning Cell on Administrative, Functional, and Territorial Reform in Thuringia
OECD Project Page for Innovative Citizen Participation
Bürgergutachten zur Verwaltungs-, Funktional- und Gebietsreform in Thüringen
Gut gedacht - aber schlecht gemacht
POLITICIZE Project
Start Date
End Date
Ongoing
No
Time Limited or Repeated?
A single, defined period of time
Purpose/Goal
Make, influence, or challenge decisions of government and public bodies
Develop the civic capacities of individuals, communities, and/or civil society organizations
Approach
Consultation
Spectrum of Public Participation
Consult
Total Number of Participants
72
Open to All or Limited to Some?
Limited to Only Some Groups or Individuals
Recruitment Method for Limited Subset of Population
Stratified Random Sample
General Types of Methods
Deliberative and dialogic process
Planning
General Types of Tools/Techniques
Facilitate dialogue, discussion, and/or deliberation
Recruit or select participants
Propose and/or develop policies, ideas, and recommendations
Specific Methods, Tools & Techniques
Deliberation
Civic Lottery
Planning Cells
Legality
Yes
Face-to-Face, Online, or Both
Face-to-Face
Types of Interaction Among Participants
Discussion, Dialogue, or Deliberation
Decision Methods
Voting
Communication of Insights & Outcomes
Public Report
Type of Organizer/Manager
For-Profit Business
Funder
Budget of the Thuringian Ministry of Interior and Municipal Affairs
Type of Funder
Regional Government
Formal Evaluation
Yes

In 2016, the 72 members of the Planning Cells on Administrative, Functional, and Territorial Reform in Thuringia met to provide recommendations on how to create sustainable and citizen-friendly administrative structures during reorganization in Thuringia, Germany.

Problems and Purpose

The government of the state of Thüringen initiated a series of reforms of territorial communities and local administrations. In this framework, planning cells were held on the topic of local administrations in October and November 2016 in four cities of Thüringen: Gera (10.11.2016 - 12.11.2016), Tambach-Dietharz (03.11.2016 – 05.11.2016), Suhl (27.10.2016 – 29.10.2016) and Mülhausen (17.11.2016 – 19.11.2016).

Background History and Context

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

The firm Nexus was in charge of the organization and facilitation of the planning cells.

Participant Recruitment and Selection

Random selection was used, on the basis of two strata (region and commune). First, four cities or villages were randomly selected in each of Thüringen’s main areas (East, North, Center, South-West). Then, participants were randomly drawn (using population registers) among adult residents of each of these 16 cities. The aim was 24 participants per main area but due to the low response rate, organizers settled for a lower number.

Methods and Tools Used

What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation

Each planning cell lasted 3 consecutive days (from Thursday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm). The workplan included a short preparation phase with experts (selected by nexus), small-group (5-6 people) discussions, plenary discussions and hearings of local politicians. The final report was handed over to the state’s interior ministry in early 2017.

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

Analysis and Lessons Learned

See Also

References

External Links

Notes

This entry is based on:

  • Paulis, Emilien; Pilet, Jean-Benoit; Panel, Sophie; Vittori, Davide; Close, Caroline, 2020, "POLITICIZE Dataset", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/Z7X6GT, Harvard Dataverse, V1
  • Data was sourced from OECD (2020), Innovative Citizen Participation and New Democratic Institutions: Catching the Deliberative Wave, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/339306da-en