Izvorni znanstveni članak
The Value of Participation: Institutional Conditions for Demonstrable Public Influence on Energy Policy
Črt Poglajen
; neovisni istraživač, član Društva nuklearnih stručnjaka Slovenije
Sažetak
Normatively speaking, tokenism can pose a greater threat to democratic legitimacy than overt autocracy: while autocracy makes no secret of excluding citizens, tokenistic participation formally acknowledges their voices yet divorces them from any tangible influence. In energy projects, this issue manifests as a gap between formally open procedures and the public’s actual ability to influence decisions. Drawing on self-determination theory and Arnstein’s ladder of participation, an exploratory, theory-driven comparative analysis of publicly available documents from six cases in Croatia and Slovenia reveals that timely inclusion, information clarity, institutional responsiveness, and the reasoned consideration of proposals are crucial for participation that transcends tokenism. Mini-publics can enhance the quality of deliberation but do not guarantee political impact; the latter depends on their mandate, their connection to the public sphere, and accountability regarding the implementation of recommendations.
Ključne riječi
participation; deliberative democracy; Arnstein scale; theory of self-determination; institutional design; energy policy; infrastructure projects
Hrčak ID:
352152
URI
Datum izdavanja:
14.10.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *