Redistribution and Deliberation in Mandated Participatory Governance: The Case of Participatory Budgeting in Seoul, South Korea

abstract: This dissertation examines whether participatory budgeting (PB) processes, as a case of participatory governance and an innovative approach to local governance, promote inclusive and deliberative government decision-making and social justice outcomes. The first chapter introduces the case of the dissertation, PB in the city of Seoul, South Korea. It reviews the history of PB and the literature on PB in South Korea and discusses three issues that arise when implementing legally mandated PB. The second chapter explores whether inclusive PB processes redistribute financial resources even without the presence of explicit equity criteria, using the last four years of PB resource allocation data and employing multi-level statistical analysis. The findings show that having a more inclusive process to encourage citizen participation helps poorer districts to win more resources than wealthier ones. The third chapter is a follow-up exploratory study; the possible reasons behind the redistributive effects of PB are discussed using interview data with PB participants. The findings suggest that the PB process could have been redistributive because it provided an opportunity for the people living in the comparatively poorer neighborhoods to participate in the government decision-making process. Additionally, when scoring proposals, participants valued ‘needs’ and ‘urgency’ as the most important criteria. The last chapter examines the 32 PB meetings in order to find the combinations of conditions that lead to a deliberative participatory process, employing qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). This dissertation contributes to the field of public management, and particularly participatory governance by providing a review of the literature on PB in South Korea, presenting empirical evidence on the redistributive effect of PB without explicit equity criteria, and finding the combinations of meeting conditions that could be used to promote deliberation in the context of PB.Dissertation/ThesisDoctoral Dissertation Public Administration and Policy 201

Inclusive development and democracy: human well-being and poverty from an institutional perspective

This dissertation approaches the relationship between institutions and their impacts on development outcomes. Institutions describe formal and informal rules which structure human behavior and interactions. Because these formal and informal rules influence not only everyday actions but especially economic activity, they are a major influence on development processes and therefore present a salient research subject. The dissertation highlights two aspects; namely inclusive development – i.e. whether the entire society or only a small part can benefit from development achievements – and the relationship between democratization and poverty. The research on these topics is presented in the following four main chapters: chapter 2 presents a new index measure for inclusive development, and chapter 3 uses this index to look at drivers of inclusive development. Chapter 5 investigates whether democratization has an impact on poverty rates and chapter 6 gauges how institutional features of democracies contribute to poverty reduction. In each chapter, the specific research gaps will be explained, the relevant theory elaborated, and empirical strategy and results will be presented. Chapter 4 will give an interim conclusion for chapters 2 & 3 and chapter 7 concludes the whole dissertation

Transformer la ville par la démocratie participative et délibérative : l'exemple des conseils de quartier décisionnels

Les enjeux entourant la ville, la participation et la délibération démocratique occupent une place grandissante au sein de la philosophie politique contemporaine, mais ces idées sont rarement articulées dans une réflexion critique et normative commune pour formuler une alternative viable et désirable aux institutions représentatives actuelles. L’objectif de cette thèse consiste à proposer la création de conseils de quartier décisionnels qui pourraient décentraliser les pouvoirs au sein de la ville afin de favoriser la délibération et la participation citoyenne à l’échelle locale. Pour tracer les modalités du design institutionnel de cette innovation démocratique, notre argumentation procède en trois temps. Premièrement, il faut déterminer les fondements normatifs du concept de « participation », ses principes institutionnels et les obstacles qui peuvent éventuellement nuire à l’engagement citoyen. Deuxièmement, il faut préciser la notion de « décentralisation » pour repenser le partage des compétences et des responsabilités dans un contexte de gouvernance multi-niveaux. Troisièmement, il faut dégager les multiples enjeux de la « délibération » afin de concevoir des conseils qui soient réellement inclusifs. Par ailleurs, une théorie normative doit également tenir compte de la spatialité propre à la ville, de la dynamique de métropolisation et de la dimension du quartier pour bien ancrer la démocratie participative dans cet espace particulier. Enfin, pour surmonter les contraintes pratiques liées à la délibération au sein des assemblées ouvertes, il est possible d’envisager le recours à des technologies numériques et des dispositifs participatifs complémentaires, dans le but de favoriser le pouvoir citoyen au sein d’un système délibératif élargi.The city, citizen participation and deliberative democracy are taking a larger place in contemporary political philosophy debates, but these ideas are rarely articulated in a common critical and normative frame in order to formulate a viable and desirable alternative to actual representative institutions. The objective of this thesis is to propose the creation of decision-making neighborhood councils that could decentralize power in the city, and foster deliberation and citizen participation at the local level. To outline the institutional design of this democratic innovation, the argument proceeds in three steps. First, we determine the normative foundations of « participation », its institutional principles and the potential obstacles that might limit citizen engagement. Second, we analyze the concept of « decentralization » in order to rethink the sharing of jurisdictions and responsabilities in a context of multi-level governance. Third, we draw the different issues of « deliberation » in order to conceive councils that are really inclusive. Moreover, a normative theory must take into account the spatiality of the city, the dynamic of metropolization and the size of the neighborhood to anchor participatory democracy in this particular place. Finally, to overcome the practical constraints related to deliberation in open assemblies, it could be possible to use digital technologies and complementary participatory mechanisms, to foster citizen power in a larger deliberative system

Corporate social responsibility, gender equality and organizational change: a feminist perspective

There is a growing literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and gender issues, which draws upon a range of feminist theory and perspectives. However,research in this field appears to have been somewhat hampered by a lack of systematic engagement with ‘gendered organizations’ studies (GOS), and with a broad range of CSR theory, in particular that related to governance. This thesis sets out to address these gaps in the literature. It opens up new dialogue between the fields of GOS and CSR. Through a review of the GOS literature this study notes a number of organizational change strategies identified by feminist scholars. With reference to these it develops a set of research questions with which to investigate the possible contribution of CSR to organizational change with regard to gender equality. These are then employed in an exploration of CSR practice, focusing on CSR reporting and stakeholder relations. Through this analysis the thesis identifies several ways in which CSR might contribute to advancing the feminist organizational change agenda. Particular attention is paid to recent developments in political theories of CSR, which regard CSR as a governance process involving business, government and civil society. Thus, the thesis addresses organizational change and gender equality in the context of new governance, and particularly CSR, and by extending the literature both empirically and conceptually produces insights for feminist studies relating to CSR theory and practice. Noting that the private sector is playing an increasingly important role in employment, and more broadly in societal governance in many parts of the world, and the growth of CSR, research in this thesis critically engages with CSR literature and practice from a feminist perspective. The research presented assesses the importance of CSR for organizational change on gender equality through an investigation of two related questions, namely how gender equality issues are addressed within CSR practice, and how CSR might help advance organizational change on this agenda. These questions are explored through the use of nine secondary research questions in three studies involving document analysis of company reports, and semi-structured interviews with corporate managers, and with leaders of women’s NGOs. The thesis thus updates our knowledge of CSR reporting on gender equality issues, and explores the views of corporate managers about CSR and gender equality. It also investigates the views of leaders in women’s NGOs on private sector accountability for gender equality, and the field of CSR more broadly, thus engaging with a group of stakeholders not normally included in the CSR literature. The research suggests that, despite its limitations, CSR can contribute to the gender organizational change agenda in several ways, which revolve around the new governance systems which CSR presages. These include new organizational rhetoric and practices, new external drivers of change within business, and new kinds of regulation. The three studies are informed by, and contextualised with reference to the CSR literature on governance, and are ultimately brought together in a discussion of CSR as a governance process from a feminist perspective. From this vantage point the potential of CSR to facilitate organizational change suggested in this thesis appears to be underdeveloped at the present time. While recognizing many important critiques of the field, with reference to the research outcomes the thesis frames CSR as a political opportunity with regard to gender equality. The aim here is therefore to contribute not only to knowledge but also perhaps to feminist action

Social Inclusion and Participatory Democracy : from the conceptual discussion to local action

This editing is the result of a study prepared by the Institut de Govern i Polítiques Publiques (IGOP) of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) at the request of the Committee on Social Inclusion, Participatory Democracy and Human Rights. The IGOP questions the relation between participatory democracy and social inclusion both in theory and in practice. Besides, the IGOP provides an in-depth analysis of the multidimensional inclusion - exclusion phenomenon appearing in urban societies and of the various approaches to participatory democracy. Concrete action plans are then suggested to set up engaged local public policies for the recognition of the other and the defense of rights

Corporate social responsibility, gender equality and organizational change: a feminist perspective

There is a growing literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and gender issues, which draws upon a range of feminist theory and perspectives. However,research in this field appears to have been somewhat hampered by a lack of systematic engagement with ‘gendered organizations’ studies (GOS), and with a broad range of CSR theory, in particular that related to governance. This thesis sets out to address these gaps in the literature. It opens up new dialogue between the fields of GOS and CSR. Through a review of the GOS literature this study notes a number of organizational change strategies identified by feminist scholars. With reference to these it develops a set of research questions with which to investigate the possible contribution of CSR to organizational change with regard to gender equality. These are then employed in an exploration of CSR practice, focusing on CSR reporting and stakeholder relations. Through this analysis the thesis identifies several ways in which CSR might contribute to advancing the feminist organizational change agenda. Particular attention is paid to recent developments in political theories of CSR, which regard CSR as a governance process involving business, government and civil society. Thus, the thesis addresses organizational change and gender equality in the context of new governance, and particularly CSR, and by extending the literature both empirically and conceptually produces insights for feminist studies relating to CSR theory and practice. Noting that the private sector is playing an increasingly important role in employment, and more broadly in societal governance in many parts of the world, and the growth of CSR, research in this thesis critically engages with CSR literature and practice from a feminist perspective. The research presented assesses the importance of CSR for organizational change on gender equality through an investigation of two related questions, namely how gender equality issues are addressed within CSR practice, and how CSR might help advance organizational change on this agenda. These questions are explored through the use of nine secondary research questions in three studies involving document analysis of company reports, and semi-structured interviews with corporate managers, and with leaders of women’s NGOs. The thesis thus updates our knowledge of CSR reporting on gender equality issues, and explores the views of corporate managers about CSR and gender equality. It also investigates the views of leaders in women’s NGOs on private sector accountability for gender equality, and the field of CSR more broadly, thus engaging with a group of stakeholders not normally included in the CSR literature. The research suggests that, despite its limitations, CSR can contribute to the gender organizational change agenda in several ways, which revolve around the new governance systems which CSR presages. These include new organizational rhetoric and practices, new external drivers of change within business, and new kinds of regulation. The three studies are informed by, and contextualised with reference to the CSR literature on governance, and are ultimately brought together in a discussion of CSR as a governance process from a feminist perspective. From this vantage point the potential of CSR to facilitate organizational change suggested in this thesis appears to be underdeveloped at the present time. While recognizing many important critiques of the field, with reference to the research outcomes the thesis frames CSR as a political opportunity with regard to gender equality. The aim here is therefore to contribute not only to knowledge but also perhaps to feminist action

Reconstruire la légitimité démocratique : l'articulation entre public, communauté et demos dans la pensée de John Dewey

La pensée de John Dewey ouvre de nombreuses voies pour repenser la légitimité politique en présentant la démocratie comme une expérimentation, une suite d'enquêtes : bref, sans solution générale préétablie. L'idéal démocratique que Dewey développe ne s'articule pas autour d'un centre commun et unique : un demos unifié qui serait la marque d'une identité collective nationale. Au contraire, le foyer de la légitimité démocratique est décentré, délocalisé et dénominalisé, car ce sont les « publics » qui s'assimilent chez Dewey à des pouvoirs constituants. Cependant, Dewey est incapable de rester fidèle à la conception décentrée de la démocratie qu'il introduit pourtant. Son appel à la reconstruction d'un demos (au singulier) homogène semble l'emporter sur le nécessaire développement de demoï (au pluriel) hétérogènes. En fait, sa conception démocratique sous-tend l'uniformisation des particularités des problèmes qui font naître les publics. Les différentes problématiques sociales sont toutes ramenées sous un problème englobant, premier, général et peut-être même final : la condition des travailleurs. Le peu d'attention qu'il accorde à certaines problématiques, comme celles impliquées par le racisme ou le sexisme, illustre bien cette forme d'avalement de la diversité des publics dans l'unité d'un public commun et central, seul apte à permettre le changement social. Sur la base de cette réinterprétation, il importe de réévaluer l'apport de Dewey aux réflexions entourant la question de la légitimité politique dans le contexte actuel marqué, d'une part, par l'éclatement des formes de participation citoyenne en dehors des canaux traditionnels, et d'autre part, par la multiplication et l'enchevêtrement d'institutions ayant autorité.\ud ______________________________________________________________________________ \ud MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Légitimité, public, décentrement démocratique, participation citoyenne, inclusion, pluralisme, diversité sociale, John Dewey, G.W.F. Hegel, James Bohman, Iris Marion Young, Pierre Rosanvallon

Smart as (un)democratic? The making of a smart city imaginary in Kolkata, India

‘Smart’ imaginaries have been enthusiastically embraced by urban planners and policymakers around the world. Indians are no exception. Between 2015–2018, following national government guidelines to use participatory and inclusive processes, many cities developed proposals for a smart city challenge. Successful proposals received financial and technical support from the national government. We examine the making of the smart city proposal submitted by New Town Kolkata (NTK). We ask how (un)democratic was the making of the proposal, along three aspects: distributive, participatory, and responsive. Based on an analysis of documents and interviews with policymakers and citizens, we find that NTK’s smart city imaginary largely failed to be distributive. It rarely accounted for the specific needs of poorer and vulnerable citizens. City officials invested considerable effort in using participatory techniques, but citizen participation was tightly controlled through top-down design and practice of the techniques. The latter often facilitated one-way flow of information from the city administration to the citizens. The proposal was responsive to some citizens’ voices, but only those belonging to the more affluent classes. A messy diversity of citizens’ voices was thus closed down, as the city officials filtered and cherry-picked citizens’ voices that were well-aligned with the official technocratic vision of ‘global’ smart urbanism. The paper shows how democracy can be put in the service of technocracy, within a rhetoric of citizen participation and social inclusion that embodies smart urbanism