Assemblies, Referendums or Consultations? Social Representations of Citizen Participation

Abstract

According to some studies, Spanish citizens want more participatory
processes. There are pro-participatory groups (the young, non-voters,
left-wing voters, residents in mid-sized cities, etc.), while other groups
are less enthusiastic (right-wing voters). In this study we address social
representations of participatory democracy and how they are embedded
in the political understandings of different groups. The study is based on
16 focus-groups conducted between 2011 and 2013 in Spain. We
identify four major visions among the participants: those who prefer a
complex deliberative system for citizen participation, those who want
more referenda and other expressive channels, those who think it is an
unattainable reform, and those who reject these types of political
processes.