Playing with fire? Swedish mobilization for participatory democracy

Abstract:

Swedish service democracy is solidly based on a successful welfare state configuration. When good social services are received, citizens reciprocate with their stabilizing trust and legitimacy. Towards the turn of the last century, several economic, organizational and ideological foundations of Swedish representative democracy were faltering, owing to exogenous trends as well as to self-inflicted actions. A governmental commission was set up in 1997 in order to combat a weakening legitimacy. Confronted with extensive social science research, the commission chose to try to shift the focus from the output side to the input side of Swedish democracy. It argued for a legitimacy rooted primarily not in substantial qualities of social service but in procedural qualities such as citizen opportunities to gain influence and autonomy. Not completely disinterested (as its members were party representatives), it recommended leaving room for a participatory democracy with advanced deliberative qualities. In the ensuing debate, competing ideals of democracy were advanced.