PCI Symposium: Participation: Norms and Storms

This symposium, organized by the Participation research group, explores how participation is informed by implicit rules or norms, and the impact of breaking these rules. We are aware of the proliferation and popularity of participatory approaches, for instance ‘co-production’ and ‘public engagement’ being two institutionalised initiatives that have gained prominence in the UK in recent years. But such wholesale adoption of participation can be uncritical, nostalgic, patronising, and, as Markus Miessen (2011) claims, indicative of the evacuation of political responsibility as it seeks out consensus. This symposium analyses and critiques participations' implicit and explicit rules that, according to Kirsty Sedgman, are shaped by the ideas of “reasonableness” and “common sense” (2018). While rules are necessary to ensure participatory processes, they can exclude people that do not conform to the idea of “reasonableness” from taking part. Furthermore, challenging those norms can result in innovative and inclusive practices that can broaden both the scope and the impact of participation.

Keynote: Dr Kirsty Sedgman, University of Bristol

Lunch will be provided