Sesión 13. Participación, integridad pública y gobierno urbano.

Welcome to the Thirteenth Thematic Session

Introduction and Context

• The session is part of the Colombian Chair on Citizenship and Anti-Corruption, focusing on urban good governance.

• Participants include citizens from various organizations in Colombia, public officials, and attendees from Central America.

• Each guest speaker will have 25 to 30 minutes for their presentation, followed by a dialogue with the audience.

Guest Speaker Introduction

• Professor Clire Lun Gama is introduced as a historian with expertise in political history and international cooperation.

• She has over 20 years of experience in project management, research, and teaching related to governance and anti-corruption.

Understanding Trust Deficits Between Citizens and Institutions

Presentation Overview

• Professor Clire outlines her presentation's structure: diagnosing trust deficits between citizens and public institutions followed by recommendations for rebuilding trust.

Transparency International's Role

• Transparency Colombia aims for a corruption-free society that acts for the common good; it has been active for 25 years.

• The organization engages in measuring corruption, supporting whistleblowers, training stakeholders on public corruption issues.

Diagnosing Trust Deficits

Causes of Trust Deficit

• Four main causes are identified regarding the deficit of trust between citizens and public institutions:

• Democratic Recession: Only 48% support democracy in Latin America today compared to 63% in 2010.

• This indicates a significant decline in democratic support across the region.

• In Colombia specifically, support increased slightly from 43% four years ago to 48%.

Implications of Findings

• Some individuals believe an authoritarian government may be preferable under certain circumstances, highlighting disillusionment with democracy.

Civic Space and Trust Issues in Latin America

Limited Civic Space

• The discussion begins with the acknowledgment of limited civic space, highlighting that it affects not just individuals but broader societal engagement.

• According to a report by Civicus, Latin America and the Caribbean are identified as the most dangerous regions for human rights defenders, including environmental activists and indigenous leaders.

• The report categorizes civic space as repressed, indicating significant restrictions on expression, organization, and public manifestation.

Lack of Trust in Participation

• There is a noted absence of guarantees and results from citizen participation efforts. The focus has been primarily on enhancing citizen capabilities rather than holding the state accountable for enabling conditions for participation.

• Despite constitutional frameworks promoting participation since 1991, there remains an emphasis on training rather than ensuring access to resources like financial support and public information necessary for effective participation.

• A critical point raised is the need for binding citizen input in public decision-making processes to rebuild trust.

Corruption's Impact on Trust

• A significant factor contributing to distrust is corruption; Colombia scored 40 out of 100 in the 2023 Corruption Perception Index, showing slight improvement yet still indicating high corruption risks.

• Transparency International's findings reveal that perceptions of corruption remain high among Colombian citizens, with many believing that government actions serve only a few powerful interests.

Relationship Between Corruption and Democracy

• Countries with higher corruption levels tend to invest less in essential sectors like health and education. This correlation suggests that increased corruption undermines democratic norms.

• The discussion emphasizes how countries perceived as corrupt have insufficient civic spaces leading to limited citizen oversight over power structures.

Conclusion: Proposals Moving Forward

Building Trust Between Institutions and Citizens

Improving Democratic Quality

• Emphasizes the need to enhance the quality of democracy as a foundational step in rebuilding trust between institutions and citizens.

• Highlights excessive polarization in the region, suggesting that strengthening centrist political trends could foster greater dialogue among diverse political forces.

Freedom of Expression and Political Representation

• Stresses the importance of guaranteeing freedom of expression, access to information, and public mobilization rights. Recent improvements in Colombia regarding public protests are noted.

• Discusses the lack of trust in political parties due to their failure to represent citizen interests, leading to a proliferation of coalitions for local elections that may not align with traditional democratic aspirations.

Security and Civic Space

• Introduces citizen security as a critical issue intertwined with corruption and social inequality, advocating for multifaceted approaches rather than singular solutions.

• Calls for strengthening civic space by protecting human rights defenders and whistleblowers, noting ongoing legislative efforts aimed at enhancing protections for those exposing corruption.

Anti-Corruption Strategies

• Mentions an ongoing discussion about comprehensive anti-corruption strategies within governmental planning departments, emphasizing the need for multi-sectoral approaches.

• Critiques current anti-corruption measures as insufficient while advocating for a more integrated approach that encompasses cultural change alongside institutional reforms.

Cultural Change and Public Participation

• Discusses the necessity of cultural change towards rejecting corruption, highlighting that this transformation requires time and collective effort rather than immediate results.

Discussion on Citizen Participation in Public Policy

Importance of Citizen Involvement

• The speaker emphasizes the critical role of citizens in public policy, noting that there have been numerous instances where citizen consultation has significantly influenced policy outcomes.

• It is essential for institutions to demonstrate how citizen input has shaped public policies; this transparency builds trust and encourages ongoing participation.

• Participation extends beyond traditional forums like community councils; it also includes digital activism and social media engagement, which can lead to meaningful proposals.

Emerging Forms of Participation

• New forms of civic engagement, such as online activism, are recognized as valid contributions to public discourse, provided they are regulated appropriately.

• While the state holds primary responsibility for creating public policies, other actors share this responsibility. Effective dialogue between institutions and citizens can yield positive results.

Challenges Facing Democracy in Latin America

Erosion of Trust

• The presentation highlights a diagnosis of democracy's current state in Latin America, focusing on the erosion of trust among citizens towards their governments.

• Genuine participation requires not just inviting people to engage but ensuring that their voices influence decision-making processes effectively.

Introduction to Professor Gustavo Durán

Academic Background

• Professor Gustavo Durán is introduced as an architect and urbanist with extensive academic credentials from various prestigious institutions across Latin America.

• His expertise lies in urban studies, particularly concerning marginalization and exclusion within cities like Bogotá, Quito, and Santiago de Chile.

Urban Studies Perspective on Citizenship

Contribution from Urban Studies

• Professor Durán expresses surprise at being invited to discuss citizenship issues typically reserved for political scientists or sociologists but aims to contribute insights from urban studies.

Methodological Approach

• He plans to present images that contextualize his perspective on citizenship spaces within the framework of democratic crises in Latin America.

Spaces of Citizenship: A Methodological Framework

Conceptual Framework

• The presentation will introduce a methodological approach identifying "triple spatiality" within urban contexts as part of new social change agendas amidst democratic challenges.

Participation, Public Integrity, and Urban Governance

Key Themes in Urban Governance

• The session focuses on the interplay between participation, public integrity, and urban governance, emphasizing the importance of understanding how these elements articulate within citizenship debates.

• The speaker notes that while many questions have been posed regarding urban governance, there is a significant absence in discussions about the "where"—the geographical context where trust is built and strategies are deployed.

• Identifying the spatial aspect of governance is crucial; it highlights how various actors operate within specific locales and how this affects citizen engagement and trust.

Contextualizing Current Debates

• The discussion invites participants to consider the current socio-political climate affecting democracy and citizenship in Latin America, particularly following recent social upheavals.

• Reference is made to Manuel Castells' perspective on social unrest in Chile as indicative of broader democratic crises across Latin America. He suggests a profound rupture between rulers and the ruled.

Crisis of Trust in Democratic Systems

• The speaker discusses evidence of deepening crises within democratic systems characterized by a lack of responsiveness from governments, leading to eroded trust among citizens.

• Various crises—including economic disparities, migration issues, environmental challenges—are cited as factors contributing to this loss of confidence in governmental institutions.

The Impact of Ineffective Governance on Citizen Trust

Deficiencies in Governance and Public Health

• In Ecuador, the initial handling of public health processes was severely deficient, particularly before vaccine availability, leading to loss of lives and eroded trust between citizens and their government.

Academic Perspectives on Citizen Participation

• Traditional views on citizen participation emphasize formal spaces within the state that facilitate relationships between the state and civil society.

Constitutional Framework for Citizen Engagement

• A review of constitutional provisions in Colombia (1991) and Ecuador (2008) reveals numerous mechanisms intended to promote healthy citizen participation.

Crisis of Institutional Effectiveness

• Despite existing frameworks aimed at fostering citizen engagement, a crisis in state effectiveness has led to a collapse in democratic systems, undermining these institutions' intended roles.

Urban Development and Institutional Limitations

• In urban development contexts in Ecuador, many national institutions lack significant impact on public policy formation, often resulting in ineffective participatory processes.

Emergence of Non-Institutionalized Citizenship Spaces

Redefining Citizenship through Urban Participation

• New forms of non-institutionalized citizenship are emerging within urban contexts that redefine aspects such as belonging and cooperation among citizens.

Active Urban Citizenship Practices

• German academic Janosa describes active urban citizenship as a practice focused on creating genuine spaces for civic engagement outside traditional institutional frameworks.

Challenges for State Agents and Academia

Rebuilding Trust Between Citizens and the State

• There is an urgent need for both state agents and academics to explore how to rebuild trust between citizens and their governing bodies amidst current crises.

Redesigning Communication Mechanisms

• Effective communication strategies must be reconfigured to engage with citizens more dynamically beyond formal institutional settings.

Understanding New Social Change Agendas

Contextualizing Citizen Mobilization

• Current social change agendas reflect specific needs that drive citizen mobilization; understanding these patterns is crucial for effective governance.

Historical Patterns vs. Contemporary Movements

Understanding Urban Development and Citizen Participation

Focused Demands in Urban Development

• The discussion highlights the emergence of focused demands and agendas within specific sectors of urban development, particularly concerning housing.

• Key areas of concern include transportation policies, environmental issues, equity agendas, and the inclusion of historically marginalized groups such as ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities.

Historical Context and Citizen Trust

• Understanding citizen needs is crucial for rebuilding trust between the state and its citizens; this requires recognizing how citizens express their needs.

• A reference to the M15 movement in Madrid illustrates a historical context where public dissatisfaction arose from years of poor governance following Spain's return to democracy.

New Forms of Citizen Participation

• The conversation shifts towards new spaces for citizen participation, emphasizing reflections on emerging citizen agendas that drive civic engagement.

• Identifying where new urban actors develop their agendas is essential for reconnecting with citizens rather than waiting for them to engage with established institutional frameworks.

Triple Spatiality Thesis

• The concept of "triple spatiality" emerges as a framework to understand new forms of citizenship. This thesis seeks to identify where these actions are taking place within urban contexts.

• It contrasts previous regimes by highlighting more intermittent participation patterns focused on specific community sectors.

Spaces for Citizen Engagement

• Three concrete spaces identified for concentrated citizen participation include:

• Micro-level: Local community organizations and movements (e.g., youth groups, theater collectives).

• Virtual: Social media platforms facilitating broader engagement.

Urban Mobilizations and Citizen Participation

Understanding Urban Mobilizations

• The concept of urban mobilizations is explored, emphasizing the articulation of a "triple spatiality" that explains current citizen participation dynamics.

• Collective actions by social movements are discussed, particularly in marginalized urban spaces, which differ significantly from those in the 1970s and 1980s focused on basic services like water and education.

Evolving Needs in Marginalized Areas

• Urban peripheries have evolved beyond basic service demands due to struggles for rights; however, new needs continue to emerge within these communities.

• Neighborhood organizations have adapted effectively to address these evolving needs, serving as a crucial engine for micro-level citizen participation.

The Role of Virtual Spaces

• Virtual spaces such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram play an essential role in organizing citizen strategies and demands across the continent.

• Despite advancements in online government engagement, there remains significant work needed to create genuine connections between citizens and the state through virtual platforms.

Current Social Explosions

• Recent global events highlight ongoing public demonstrations; various political sectors utilize these tools for mobilization.

• The interplay of different types of participatory spaces—micro-local, virtual, and macro—requires understanding their historical context and temporal nature.

Reflections on Citizen Participation

• A call is made to consider how historical contexts shape citizen engagement at local levels while recognizing intermittent virtual interactions.

• The discussion emphasizes changing citizenship agendas amid societal challenges affecting democratic systems globally.

Challenges in Effective Transformation

• Questions arise regarding the actual transformative capacity of citizen participation spaces; examples from Chile illustrate potential disillusionment with structural change despite significant social movements.

Social Movements and Urban Spaces

Introduction to the Discussion

• The conversation begins with a focus on social movements, neighborhood groups, and citizen initiatives, emphasizing their role in urban agendas.

• Mauricio Ortiz is introduced as a lawyer and political scientist with extensive experience in public policy formulation and transparency.

Background of Mauricio Ortiz

• Ortiz currently serves as a senior leader for institutional strengthening and anti-corruption at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), focusing on the Andean region and Southern Cone.

• He expresses gratitude for being invited to participate in this academic space, highlighting his ongoing collaboration with the Colombian Chair of Integrity.

UNODC's Role in Anti-Corruption

• Ortiz outlines UNODC's mandate to assist states in preventing drug-related crime that threatens development opportunities.

• He emphasizes the importance of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which has over 190 countries as signatories, providing guidelines for combating corruption.

Technical Assistance Areas

• The office provides technical assistance aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and understanding corruption's relationship with other criminal phenomena.

• Key areas include generating knowledge about anti-corruption strategies, supporting collective actions against corruption, and facilitating training processes like the Colombian Chair of Integrity.

Corruption's Impact on Public Trust

• Ortiz connects corruption to declining public trust in government services, echoing sentiments expressed by previous speakers.

• He presents a strategic vision for Latin America from 2022 to 2023 that addresses high inequality levels, violence perceptions, widespread corruption beliefs, impunity issues, and declining judicial system trust.

Survey Insights on Institutional Trust

• A survey reveals only 8% of respondents trust public officials; contrastingly higher trust levels are noted towards academia or military institutions.

• This loss of confidence correlates with perceptions of corruption and ineffective judicial responses to crimes.

Factors Influencing Corrupt Practices

• Public officials identify ethical value absence as a primary factor contributing to corrupt practices within public administration.

Understanding Public Integrity and Corruption in Colombia

The Importance of Ethical Values in Public Service

• The discussion highlights the significance of recognizing ethical values among public servants, which is crucial for addressing issues like lack of controls and low salaries that contribute to corrupt practices.

• Acknowledging these ethical deficiencies is a vital first step towards strengthening public integrity, directing efforts where they are most needed.

Impact on Democratic Stability

• The absence of ethical values in public service significantly affects citizens' trust in government, impacting democratic stability and governance.

• Recent surveys indicate only 18% of respondents express satisfaction with how democracy functions in Colombia, reflecting widespread discontent.

Legislative Framework and Its Limitations

• Despite extensive legal frameworks established over the past two decades—including international treaties against corruption—there has been little impact on reducing perceived corruption among citizens.

• New laws aimed at transparency and anti-corruption have not yielded expected results, indicating a disconnect between legislation and public perception.

Legitimacy Crisis in Public Administration

• Negative evaluations regarding public servants' ethics lead to diminished legitimacy for public administration, affecting governance and political systems overall.

• This crisis extends beyond national issues to local contexts, influencing everyday life within communities.

Local Perceptions of Rights Protection

• Recent data from political culture surveys reveal that many Colombians feel their rights are not adequately protected by the state, particularly concerning freedom of expression and minority rights.

• Issues such as service quality, security concerns, mobility problems, and corruption directly affect citizens’ daily lives within urban settings.

Transparency Efforts at the City Level

• In Bogotá specifically, only 13% believe city government actions promote transparency effectively; this reflects broader dissatisfaction with local governance efforts against corruption.

Corruption Reporting and Legal Framework in Colombia

Current State of Corruption Reporting

• The speaker emphasizes the lack of a solid legal framework in Colombia for reporting corruption, highlighting the need for citizen contributions through denunciations.

• Multiple legislative proposals have been introduced over recent years aimed at establishing minimum conditions for citizens to report corruption without fear of retaliation.

• Despite these efforts, no robust legislation has been approved to protect whistleblowers, whether they are public servants or ordinary citizens.

Legislative Developments

• A significant bill is currently under discussion in the Colombian Congress, developed by the national government with support from the United Nations to align with international best practices against corruption.

• This bill aims to incorporate standards from international resolutions related to anti-corruption efforts discussed at a UN conference held in December last year.

Public Awareness and Engagement

• A survey conducted by the District Observatory on Contracting and Anti-Corruption reveals that 62% of respondents were aware of acts of corruption but only 55% knew how to report them.

• Of those who understood how to report corruption, merely 33% actually took action to file a complaint, indicating a significant gap between awareness and action.

Institutional Challenges

• The data highlights an institutional challenge: there is a pressing need for accessible and user-friendly reporting channels that allow anonymous complaints while educating citizens about these resources.

Building Trust Among Stakeholders

• The speaker suggests fostering trust among various city stakeholders as essential for addressing corruption effectively, referencing strategic visions from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime focused on combating economic crimes.

• It is noted that tackling corruption requires understanding its complex relationship with issues like drug trafficking and organized crime, necessitating comprehensive approaches across different sectors.

Promoting Transparency and Accountability

• Emphasizing transparency, institutions must proactively disclose information enabling citizens to engage in social oversight and accountability dialogues with public officials.

• There is a call for restoring ethical values among public servants as crucial for regaining citizen trust and ensuring efficient use of public resources aimed at resolving societal issues such as poverty and violence.

Shifting Focus in Anti-Corruption Efforts

Understanding Public Integrity and Anti-Corruption Efforts

The Role of Public Servants in Promoting Integrity

• Emphasizes the importance of public servants internalizing integrity to represent the state effectively, highlighting a need for continuous work to strengthen ethical behaviors.

• Discusses the cultural challenges in combating corruption, referencing Mauricio García Villegas' concept of "culture of justification" where citizens often rationalize non-compliance with norms.

• Defines public integrity as alignment between societal values, principles, and ethical norms with the actions of public servants, stressing prioritization of public interest over personal gain.

Legal Framework and Practical Implementation

• Highlights specific measures that can promote integrity within public service beyond normative frameworks, including international standards like the UN Convention against Corruption and local laws such as Law 213/2019.

• Stresses that creating legal instruments is not enough; practical application is crucial for these guidelines to contribute to social control and accountability.

• Notes increased scrutiny from media and civil society on officials’ asset declarations, emphasizing transparency in monitoring wealth increases or conflicts of interest.

Preventive Measures Against Corruption

• Discusses tools like integrity codes aimed at preventing unethical behavior among public servants by providing guidance during complex ethical dilemmas.

• Advocates for a cultural shift away from justifying unethical practices towards adherence to established ethical principles in public service roles.

Collective Action Against Corruption

• Proposes promoting collective anti-corruption actions across various sectors (public, private, academia), recognizing that corruption cannot be tackled by individual efforts alone.

• Argues for a multilateral approach involving all societal sectors to enhance credibility and effectiveness in anti-corruption initiatives through collaborative efforts.

Pillars of Collaborative Anti-Corruption Initiatives

• Describes three foundational pillars for collective action: uniting stakeholders around common issues related to corruption, raising integrity standards among participants, and fostering ongoing collaboration across different groups.

• Shares examples from their office's involvement in successful collective anti-corruption initiatives with private sector partners aimed at promoting business integrity.

Transparency in Infrastructure Projects

Overview of the Transparency Portal

• The "Cost eh" portal provides insights into the progress of strategic infrastructure projects in the city, allowing citizens to see ongoing works and their advancement status.

• This initiative aims to address public concerns regarding delays and quality issues in large infrastructure projects, promoting proactive information dissemination.

District-Level Initiatives for Transparency

• Several district-level initiatives are underway to enhance transparency within public entities, aiming to rebuild citizen trust.

• Efforts include opening executive agendas for public scrutiny, enabling social control exercises by external interest groups regarding meetings held by public officials.

Tools for Conflict Management and Accountability

• The creation of the CDAP application is mandatory for all public servants, designed to manage potential conflicts of interest effectively.

• A unique reporting button has been established under Bogotá's open government initiative, simplifying corruption reporting while ensuring anonymity for whistleblowers.

Citizen Engagement and Development Plans

• Tools like a contracting oversight viewer allow citizens to track compliance with development plans crucial for urban planning.

• These initiatives reflect a cultural shift towards integrity in public actions and collective engagement from citizens.

The Role of Academia in Public Understanding

Contributions from National University

• The National University plays a vital role in generating knowledge about transparency issues and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders involved in these discussions.

Discussion on Space and Participation

Exploring Spatiality and Temporalities

• A dialogue begins focusing on the relationship between spatial dynamics and citizen participation as presented by Gustavo.

• Questions arise about how state or district plans can incorporate these spatial-temporal considerations to enhance civic engagement effectively.

Complexity of Urban Planning Participation

• Gustavo highlights that citizen participation is often viewed merely as a preliminary step before planning rather than an integral part throughout the process.

Participation in Urban Planning: A Critical Discussion

The Role of Citizen Participation in Urban Development

• The discussion begins with the identification of various spatial speculations, emphasizing the need for reflection on how different temporalities and moments of participation intertwine with planning processes.

• It is highlighted that citizen involvement should occur before, during, and after urban planning processes, stressing the importance of evaluation and monitoring tools within the normative framework.

• Claire emphasizes that participation must be integrated throughout all stages of public management cycles, echoing Gustavo's point about its necessity at every phase.

• There is a concern regarding the disorganized nature of citizen consultations in Colombia, where participation often becomes fragmented across multiple spaces and meetings.

• The risk arises when only certain groups—like professional organizations—dominate these participatory spaces, potentially leading to ineffective or counterproductive outcomes due to lack of organization.

Challenges in Effective Citizen Engagement

• A call for systematic documentation of citizen participation is made to ensure that contributions are recognized and incorporated into planning processes effectively.

• Recommendations for urban planning must be concrete; vague demands (e.g., "health for all") cannot be directly included in plans without substantial backing from civil society organizations.

• Mauricio adds to the conversation by addressing social discontent stemming from citizens feeling their input lacks impact; he suggests exploring new avenues for meaningful engagement.

Innovations in Participatory Budgeting

• An example is given regarding participatory budgeting initiatives in Bogotá, where local resources are subjected to community voting—a significant step towards enhancing civic engagement.

• The discussion shifts towards understanding how local investments can better reflect community needs through active citizen involvement in budgetary decisions.

Virtual Participation: Opportunities and Limitations

• Mauricio reflects on virtual platforms used for public participation (e.g., QR codes), noting that while they provide access to information, they may not guarantee comprehensive understanding among all citizens due to varying levels of digital literacy.

Discussion on Virtual Participation in Urban Governance

The Role of Technology in Citizen Engagement

• Gustavo emphasizes the importance of technology in enhancing communication channels between citizens and the state, noting that cities have adopted these tools at varying intensities.

• He stresses that while virtual mechanisms are valuable, the focus should be on fostering communication among citizens to build collective agendas rather than solely relying on state-led initiatives.

• Gustavo argues that current participatory processes often occur outside formal governmental structures, indicating a disconnect between state expectations and citizen engagement.

• He calls for a rethinking of government communication strategies to meet citizens where they are, rather than insisting on participation through official channels only.

Feedback Mechanisms and State Responsiveness

• Clire adds that virtual platforms can enhance participation both among citizens and towards the state, acknowledging recent improvements in governmental use of technology for better engagement.

• However, he highlights a critical need for feedback from institutions regarding participatory processes, urging transparency about how citizen input is utilized.

• Clire insists that demonstrating tangible results from participatory efforts is essential for building trust with the public.

Strengthening Reporting Mechanisms

• The discussion shifts to mechanisms for reporting issues within urban governance. Carlos Fernando Galán notes an increase in reporting channels across various entities in Bogotá as a positive development.

• He identifies two main challenges: ensuring citizens understand these channels and differentiating between types of reports (e.g., corruption vs. infrastructure issues).

• Galán recommends establishing specific channels dedicated to corruption reporting to streamline processes and improve clarity for users.

Enhancing Citizen Education and Ethical Standards

• There is a call for clear guidelines on what each reporting channel entails, emphasizing the need for inter-institutional coordination when handling complaints.

• Mauricio discusses the importance of civic education in promoting ethical values within institutions. He suggests practical pedagogical approaches to instill integrity among public servants.

Cultural Change Towards Integrity

• Eduardo points out the necessity of transitioning from theoretical discussions about integrity to actionable steps within organizations, particularly concerning conflict-of-interest management.

• He advocates creating clear pathways for public servants to report conflicts without fear of repercussions as a means to prevent corruption effectively.

Institutional Listening and Adaptation

Cultural and Climatic Influences on Citizen Agendas

The Impact of Climate and History on Cultural Change

• Cultural dynamics are influenced by climatic factors and historical contexts, necessitating a redesign that considers these elements.

• It is essential to understand how citizen agendas are constructed, consolidated, and the spatialities where they manifest.

The Role of the State in Citizen Engagement

• In the context of anti-corruption efforts, there is a need for a more transparent state that actively engages with real citizen spaces.

• The perception of the state as an inviting entity has diminished; it must adapt to be more present in civic life.

Understanding Citizen Spaces and Agendas

• A state should possess strong interpretative capabilities regarding citizen agendas and their respective spaces.