A critical analysis of the mechanisms of the European Commission’s online consultations and civil initiatives relevant to proposals towards increasing public participation in Poland Cover Image

Analiza krytyczna mechanizmów konsultacji on-line Komisji Europejskiej oraz europejskiej inicjatywy obywatelskiej a propozycje na rzecz zwiększenia partycypacji publicznej w Polsce
A critical analysis of the mechanisms of the European Commission’s online consultations and civil initiatives relevant to proposals towards increasing public participation in Poland

Author(s): Radosław Potorski, Rafał Willa
Subject(s): Methodology and research technology, Applied Sociology, Evaluation research
Published by: Instytut Zachodni im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego
Keywords: public participation; civic initiative; law-making; Poland; European Union

Summary/Abstract: A high level of public participation is a much desired state of affairs as it entails numerous benefits for the participants of the political system. Citizens gain access to legislative procedures, can express their opinions often backed by expert knowledge, have a sense of co-responsibility for the ongoing developments,etc. The authorities, in turn, without any serious weakening of their monopoly on decisions, gain access to, among others, expert knowledge, the possibility to build a broader social consensus around their actions and in this way avoid the danger of political turbulence in the form of mass protests. The problem, however, lies in the fact that such participation both at the EU and domestic level is far below the desired degree – for very different reasons citizens do not join in those processes. This inadequacy has in a way forced decision-making centers to undertake various initiatives aimed at improving the state of things. The article is anattempt to answer the question: which of the remarks and conclusions related to the introduction of twoessential mechanisms of participation at the EU’s supranational level can be implemented into the state system of the Republic of Poland.

  • Issue Year: 367/2018
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 245-256
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: English, Polish
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