Importance of citizens participation in politics in Germany

The case of the Free Democratic Party

Source: http://www.fdp-shop.de/shop/picture/Seitenteil_Stark_vor_Ort.gif

(12/11/2009)

Presenter: Dr. Rainer Adam

Dialogue: People’s Participation in

Thai Democracy

Sunday, 22. November 2009

Menam Riverside Hotel

13.30-18.30 hrs

Forms of political participation

Elections Membership in parties, associations, and unions Petitions Referendum Constitutional review Interaction between the mass media and the citizens (including the internet) Discussions and demonstrations Strike Boycott Blockades Violent behavior (against persons or property)

Source: http://www.fb1.uni-siegen.de/politik/mitarbeiter/baringhorst/dokumente/materialien_sose2008/ggi/wahlsysteme_und_wahlverhalten.pdf (13/11/2009)

Dare more freedom (“Mehr Freiheit wagen”)

Manifesto of the FDP (2009)

Dare more freedom with:

More transparency

More citizens participation

-> Civil commitment needs the

enabling, not the nanny state

Source: http://www.deutschlandprogramm.de/files/653/Deutschlandprogramm09_Endfassung.PDF (12/11/2009)

Source: http://www.fdp-nds.de/fdp_nds/media/fdp_10.jpg (12/11/2009)

Citizens participation as a liberal value

“Good reasons to vote for the FDP”:

More democracy

“The FDP wants more participation by the people through direct decisions by citizens:

• referenda

• popular initiatives

• consultative opinion polls

• direct election of the Federal President

Our way of diminishing the excessive influence political parties wield is through privatizing public services and enterprises.”

Source: http://www.fdp-bw.de/docs/18gruendeenglisch.pdf (13/11/2009)

Significance of participation (example: local affairs)

5 benefits from more dialog and cooperation:

1. Avoiding incorrect planning (subject-specific knowledge of the

administration + expertise of the citizens)

2. Creating more acceptance regarding political decisions

3. Better identification with the community

4. Multiplying the effect with united forces

5. Investing in social capital

Source: http://www.fdp-timmendorferstrand.de/index.php/startseite/buergerengagement/ (12/11/2009)

Significance of participation (example: local affairs)

Ideas to generate more

commitment:

Identify impetus and tap the full

potential

Detect possible associations

and bring the affiliates together

Aim for unified partnerships to

save resources

Source: http://www.fdp-timmendorferstrand.de/index.php/startseite/buergerengagement/ (12/11/2009)

Source: http://www.fdp-celle.de/Willkommen_files/Fahnen.jpg (13/11/2009)

Liberal initiatives

Community homepage “my party”: https://my.fdp.de

Platform to communicate with other liberals

Free signing-up

Special offers for members of the party: e.g.

exclusive information about their engagement for the FDP or

suggestions for campaigning

Source: https://my.fdp.de/webcom/show_websiteprog.php/_c-743/_lkm-902/i.html (13/11/2009)

Liberal initiatives

Trial membership

Free membership for a certain

period of time

Introduction to the work of the

party

-> Potential integration of new

members

Source: http://www.fdp-landau.de/wcsite.php?wc_b=3849 (13/11/2009) Source; http://www.fdp-bundespartei.de/webcom/show_article.php?wc_c=1706 (13/11/2009)

Liberal initiatives

Join-in-arena (“Mitmacharena”):

“Workshop for ideas”

Generation of new ideas

Introduction of the liberal party

Networking and mobilization

Exclusive information (e.g. sent

per text messages)

Writing letters to the editor

Fundraising

Source: http://mitmachen.fdp.de (13/11/2009)

Liberal initiatives

Online platform to contribute to and discuss about the manifesto of

the FDP:

Free admission for everyone

Everybody can submit ideas for the party program

Interesting proposals will be voted on

-> Citizens can directly contribute to the manifesto

Source: http://www.deutschlandprogramm.de/webcom/show_article.php?wc_c=1223&wc_id=2&wc_lkm=818 (16/11/2009)

Thank you for your attention!

Please feel free to ask questions

Visit us on our homepage www.fnfthailand.org