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More than just an experiment? Politicians arguments behind introducing participatory budgeting in Budapest
Title / Series / Name
Acta Politica
Publication Volume
58
Publication Issue
3
Pages
Authors
Editors
Keywords
Democratic innovations
Hungary
Local democracy
Participatory budgeting
Participatory democracy
Political Science and International Relations
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Hungary
Local democracy
Participatory budgeting
Participatory democracy
Political Science and International Relations
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/28302
Abstract
As deliberative and participatory practices play a greater role in political decision-making of democratic political systems in many parts of the world, political parties must adapt to demands of an increasingly more cognitively mobilized citizenry. While there is a growing body of literature about the functioning of such procedures in different social and political contexts, little is known about politicians’ reasons behind introducing them. Based on qualitative data collected among Hungarian politicians, this paper brings evidence to empirically assess why local politicians introduced Participatory Budgeting in Budapest, Hungary. Our findings suggest that politicians accept theoretical arguments for promoting citizens’ participation, newly elected local politicians expect to increase their party’s local embeddedness by creating new contact opportunities and emphasize that the introduction of Participatory Budgeting is a ground for experimentation. The article ends with a discussion about arguments that are put forth in the literature on European Participatory Budgeting but missing from the views of politicians, and concludes by highlighting the risks of institutionalizing Participatory Budgeting.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2021-11-29
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1057/s41269-021-00223-6