To better understand shifts in the role of government in relation to citizen initiatives, this article focuses on climate adaptation and the concept of the participation ladder. The research examines local government, with researchers observing and participating over a two-year period in an innovative consultation process (within the framework of a City Deal) among civil servants. The consultation focused on how municipalities engage with citizen initiatives addressing water nuisance and flooding. The findings confirm the expectation that a shift is taking place from network governance (the highest rung of the ladder), through stimulating and facilitating, toward fully stepping back and allowing initiatives to develop independently (the lowest rung).
The more urgent and politically sensitive an issue is, the more likely local governments are to retain direct control. An important argument for gradually stepping down the ladder is that successful and sustainable citizen initiatives help build public support and awareness within communities. Civil servants themselves identify three key risks that influence decisions about their role: the flexibility and openness within government organizations, the continuity of citizen initiatives, and the potential for increasing inequality. They see it as a challenge to adapt the role of local government in line with the development phase of an initiative. Because the argument is supported by practical examples, the article offers useful insights for both civil servants and citizen collectives.
H.L.P. Mees, C.J. Uittenbroek, D.L.T. Hegger, P.P.J. Driessen, 2019. From citizen participation to government participation: An exploration of the roles of local governments in community initiatives for climate change adaptation in the Netherlands. Env Pol Gov. 2019;29, p. 198–208. https://doi.org/10.1002/eet.1847
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