Network Meeting on Participation and Democracy in Europe

2nd Workshop – Building the Community of Practice
2-5 February 2012, Copenhagen, DK

List of Participants

 

 

More information on the first Berlin :
16 – 18 September 2011, Berlin

See here for:
Participants List
Venue and Accommodation
Agenda
Guide & FAQ & the Initiators

Background

Geographical, social and economic processes of large scale interact and challenge the way we used to organise our societies and democracies in Europe. Such processes are the fading of national boundaries, an increase of internal and external migration, the demographic change or the collapse of financial systems.

Along with positive effects and new opportunities these processes potentially inhabit, they especially demand new perspectives and solutions for dealing with the increase of:

• the cultural diversity of populations

• social inequalities and social gaps

• discrimination and exclusion practises

• ageing of society

These challenges have led to many ad hoc reactions in the private, public and political sphere and too often they were motivated by short-term interests, insecurity, fear or ignorance. The rise of mistrust in democratic institutions, of xenophobia and ethnic-nationalism or the return of the primacy of national interest are examples of current developments in Europe that endanger a peaceful and sustainable transcultural European society based on human rights, participation and solidarity.

Idea

The meetings bring together different actors to lay the path for a long-term collaboration between these actors and to develop a network that promotes participation, especially political participation of young people, migrants or disenfranchised groups. The changing of the common self-understanding of our society as a majority society to a society of diverse minorities rich with various cultural backgrounds, competences and knowledge plays a crucial role. Such paradigm shift allows for a change of perspectives that again reveal new opportunities and solutions to deal with the above mentioned challenges.

The collaboration can focus on three distinct but interlinked objectives:

• to raise awareness of existing political participation opportunities, especially for young people, challenged or discriminated groups, and to empower them to identify and act as democratic and valuable part of society

• to reveal the potentials of cultural diversity and change the common perspective of a deficit-approach to a appreciatory-potential approach when dealing with integration matters

• to extend political participation rights on different geographic levels and especially for groups that are politically disenfranchised, such as third-country nationals, EU expatriates or asylum-seekers.

All three objectives concern the question of how to live, decide and share responsibility together in a multinational and multicultural society. They also combine the aim to define and internalise a common canon of values, based on the EU’s charta of fundamental rights. The theoretical approach of live-long-learning is seen as the appropriate way to empower our society to meet constantly changing and new challenges.Development of the Group/Network

An initial network meeting takes place in Berlin, Germany, mid September 2011 where around 30 individuals from different structures come together from across Europe. This first meeting focuses on getting to know each other, to build trust and enter into a dialogue on the network idea? and exchange of experiences, topics, competence and expectations. The idea is to lay the foundation for the development of the described network.

A partner meeting in October in France will be hosted by fph to form a group of people within fph’s platform citizensforeurope.eu to define a common vision for the EU and to initiate a single long-term project. Though participants of the initial network meeting in Berlin may join this group in October, both meetings are somewhat independent from each other.

A second network meeting will take place in Aarhus end of 2011 where we will continue what has been developed in Berlin. A couple of new members may join the group. The content and method of this meeting will already be drafted in Berlin. In Aarhus, a three years plan for the network shall be drafted.

In its first year(s), the network and its members may act as a loose group collaborating with each other on specific activities or topics. In future the development to a network with common activities and some kind of own structure may be possible. A meeting twice per year shall nit together the members and their activities.

Network’s philosophy

The network is especially characterized by a common understanding of how to work together. Before the background of the limited resources each member has, the members share these resources, such as language skills, valuable contacts, staff, office space, funding applications, knowledge, etc. By this, the network wants to break the “competitiveness-system” among NGOs, that has entered the civil society sector due to the award system applied by major institutions. Instead of the NGO-economicus the network members apply a system of reciprocal sharing. Thus, the activities, the target groups and the common goals are always of first priority. With this approach and through common and shared success also positive images and reputation, reliability and responsibility will characterise the members of the network that are appreciated in the current award systems.

16 – 18 September 2011, Berlin

Network Meeting on Participation and Democracy in Europe

2-5 February 2012, Copenhagen, DK

List of Participants

A

16 – 18 September 2011, Berlin

See here for:
Participants List
Venue and Accommodation
Agenda
Guide & FAQ & the Initiators

Background

Geographical, social and economic processes of large scale interact and challenge the way we used to organise our societies and democracies in Europe. Such processes are the fading of national boundaries, an increase of internal and external migration, the demographic change or the collapse of financial systems.

Along with positive effects and new opportunities these processes potentially inhabit, they especially demand new perspectives and solutions for dealing with the increase of:

• the cultural diversity of populations

• social inequalities and social gaps

• discrimination and exclusion practises

• ageing of society

These challenges have led to many ad hoc reactions in the private, public and political sphere and too often they were motivated by short-term interests, insecurity, fear or ignorance. The rise of mistrust in democratic institutions, of xenophobia and ethnic-nationalism or the return of the primacy of national interest are examples of current developments in Europe that endanger a peaceful and sustainable transcultural European society based on human rights, participation and solidarity.

Idea

The meetings bring together different actors to lay the path for a long-term collaboration between these actors and to develop a network that promotes participation, especially political participation of young people, migrants or disenfranchised groups. The changing of the common self-understanding of our society as a majority society to a society of diverse minorities rich with various cultural backgrounds, competences and knowledge plays a crucial role. Such paradigm shift allows for a change of perspectives that again reveal new opportunities and solutions to deal with the above mentioned challenges.

The collaboration can focus on three distinct but interlinked objectives:

• to raise awareness of existing political participation opportunities, especially for young people, challenged or discriminated groups, and to empower them to identify and act as democratic and valuable part of society

• to reveal the potentials of cultural diversity and change the common perspective of a deficit-approach to a appreciatory-potential approach when dealing with integration matters

• to extend political participation rights on different geographic levels and especially for groups that are politically disenfranchised, such as third-country nationals, EU expatriates or asylum-seekers.

All three objectives concern the question of how to live, decide and share responsibility together in a multinational and multicultural society. They also combine the aim to define and internalise a common canon of values, based on the EU’s charta of fundamental rights. The theoretical approach of live-long-learning is seen as the appropriate way to empower our society to meet constantly changing and new challenges.Development of the Group/Network

An initial network meeting takes place in Berlin, Germany, mid September 2011 where around 30 individuals from different structures come together from across Europe. This first meeting focuses on getting to know each other, to build trust and enter into a dialogue on the network idea? and exchange of experiences, topics, competence and expectations. The idea is to lay the foundation for the development of the described network.

A partner meeting in October in France will be hosted by fph to form a group of people within fph’s platform citizensforeurope.eu to define a common vision for the EU and to initiate a single long-term project. Though participants of the initial network meeting in Berlin may join this group in October, both meetings are somewhat independent from each other.

A second network meeting will take place in Aarhus end of 2011 where we will continue what has been developed in Berlin. A couple of new members may join the group. The content and method of this meeting will already be drafted in Berlin. In Aarhus, a three years plan for the network shall be drafted.

In its first year(s), the network and its members may act as a loose group collaborating with each other on specific activities or topics. In future the development to a network with common activities and some kind of own structure may be possible. A meeting twice per year shall nit together the members and their activities.

Network’s philosophy

The network is especially characterized by a common understanding of how to work together. Before the background of the limited resources each member has, the members share these resources, such as language skills, valuable contacts, staff, office space, funding applications, knowledge, etc. By this, the network wants to break the “competitiveness-system” among NGOs, that has entered the civil society sector due to the award system applied by major institutions. Instead of the NGO-economicus the network members apply a system of reciprocal sharing. Thus, the activities, the target groups and the common goals are always of first priority. With this approach and through common and shared success also positive images and reputation, reliability and responsibility will characterise the members of the network that are appreciated in the current award systems.

See here for:
Participants List
Venue and Accommodation
Agenda
Guide & FAQ & the Initiators

Background

Geographical, social and economic processes of large scale interact and challenge the way we used to organise our societies and democracies in Europe. Such processes are the fading of national boundaries, an increase of internal and external migration, the demographic change or the collapse of financial systems.

Along with positive effects and new opportunities these processes potentially inhabit, they especially demand new perspectives and solutions for dealing with the increase of:

• the cultural diversity of populations

• social inequalities and social gaps

• discrimination and exclusion practises

• ageing of society

These challenges have led to many ad hoc reactions in the private, public and political sphere and too often they were motivated by short-term interests, insecurity, fear or ignorance. The rise of mistrust in democratic institutions, of xenophobia and ethnic-nationalism or the return of the primacy of national interest are examples of current developments in Europe that endanger a peaceful and sustainable transcultural European society based on human rights, participation and solidarity.

Idea

The meetings bring together different actors to lay the path for a long-term collaboration between these actors and to develop a network that promotes participation, especially political participation of young people, migrants or disenfranchised groups. The changing of the common self-understanding of our society as a majority society to a society of diverse minorities rich with various cultural backgrounds, competences and knowledge plays a crucial role. Such paradigm shift allows for a change of perspectives that again reveal new opportunities and solutions to deal with the above mentioned challenges.

The collaboration can focus on three distinct but interlinked objectives:

• to raise awareness of existing political participation opportunities, especially for young people, challenged or discriminated groups, and to empower them to identify and act as democratic and valuable part of society

• to reveal the potentials of cultural diversity and change the common perspective of a deficit-approach to a appreciatory-potential approach when dealing with integration matters

• to extend political participation rights on different geographic levels and especially for groups that are politically disenfranchised, such as third-country nationals, EU expatriates or asylum-seekers.

All three objectives concern the question of how to live, decide and share responsibility together in a multinational and multicultural society. They also combine the aim to define and internalise a common canon of values, based on the EU’s charta of fundamental rights. The theoretical approach of live-long-learning is seen as the appropriate way to empower our society to meet constantly changing and new challenges.Development of the Group/Network

An initial network meeting takes place in Berlin, Germany, mid September 2011 where around 30 individuals from different structures come together from across Europe. This first meeting focuses on getting to know each other, to build trust and enter into a dialogue on the network idea? and exchange of experiences, topics, competence and expectations. The idea is to lay the foundation for the development of the described network.

A partner meeting in October in France will be hosted by fph to form a group of people within fph’s platform citizensforeurope.eu to define a common vision for the EU and to initiate a single long-term project. Though participants of the initial network meeting in Berlin may join this group in October, both meetings are somewhat independent from each other.

A second network meeting will take place in Aarhus end of 2011 where we will continue what has been developed in Berlin. A couple of new members may join the group. The content and method of this meeting will already be drafted in Berlin. In Aarhus, a three years plan for the network shall be drafted.

In its first year(s), the network and its members may act as a loose group collaborating with each other on specific activities or topics. In future the development to a network with common activities and some kind of own structure may be possible. A meeting twice per year shall nit together the members and their activities.

Network’s philosophy

The network is especially characterized by a common understanding of how to work together. Before the background of the limited resources each member has, the members share these resources, such as language skills, valuable contacts, staff, office space, funding applications, knowledge, etc. By this, the network wants to break the “competitiveness-system” among NGOs, that has entered the civil society sector due to the award system applied by major institutions. Instead of the NGO-economicus the network members apply a system of reciprocal sharing. Thus, the activities, the target groups and the common goals are always of first priority. With this approach and through common and shared success also positive images and reputation, reliability and responsibility will characterise the members of the network that are appreciated in the current award systems.