In 2012, the mini-public on the future of agriculture in Austria (Zukunft der Landwirtschaft) involved 12 citizens gathering to answer the question, “How should agriculture develop in Austria? Which expectations do you have towards farmers?”
Problems and Purpose
Background History and Context
This initiative was the country's first self-declared national mini-public.
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
Participant Recruitment and Selection
The sample was stratified on residence place (the sample was restricted to inhabitants of regional capitals, and the number of people contacted in each regional capital was proportional to the city size). The initial sample of persons contacted was balanced in terms of age and gender, but it is unclear how the latter were applied, and whether other criteria were used.
Methods and Tools Used
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
The mini-public created a set of recommendations with a few main topics: (1) consumers have their hand on the future of agriculture; (2) role of agriculture; (3) system behind agriculture; (4) trade and (5) aid/subsidies. It also developed recommendations regarding the development of a regional focus in agriculture. The recommendations were presented at a Citizens’ Café (Bürgercafé) on the evening of the second day. Next to the representatives of the mini-public, politicians, public servants, and stakeholders participated. In 2013, these recommendations were discussed by working groups developing the rural area development program as part of the European Fond for regional development (EFRE). The mini-public was part of several activities reaching out to citizens. Afterwards, the participants of the mini-public received feedback on how and to what extent their recommendations became part of the final program.
Analysis and Lessons Learned
See Also
References
External Links
Notes
This entry is based on the POLITICIZE dataset. More information can be found at the following links:
- Paulis, Emilien; Pilet, Jean-Benoit; Panel, Sophie; Vittori, Davide; Close, Caroline, 2020, "POLITICIZE Dataset", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/Z7X6GT, Harvard Dataverse, V1
- Pilet J-B, Paulis E, Panel S.,Vitori D & Close C. 202X The POLITICIZE Dataset: an inventory of Deliberative Mini-Publics (DMPs) in Europe. European Political Science.