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.