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This book examines the use of game elements to encourage citizens to participate in political decision-making and the planning of large-scale public sector projects. It argues that success is based on a personal concern with the project and a belief in the influence on political decision making, but also on fun. Without fun, only a very small group of the 'usual suspects' will participate, especially in classic policymaking approaches like citizens' panels which require time and physical attendance. The book also examines the relationship between representative democracy and citizen participation from the perspective of direct democratic instruments in Germany. Readers from different countries with different political systems can decide for themselves, if and how the results from Germany are transferable to their respective conditions. Grounded in theoretical literature and statistical data, the book also makes use of narratives, applying a 'storytelling' approach to the case studies.
List of contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Gamification - Engaging People by Letting Them have Fun
Gamification in the Indication of Democratization and Humanization of the World of Employment The Development of Games and Playing in General in Private Sector Companies: Basic Features of Games, Game Elements and Player Types Creating a Playful Environment in Private Sector Companies Playing Games with the Customers in Private Sector Companies Playing Games within the Organization
Chapter 2: Citizens' Participation - Theory and Practice: Confronting the Theory with some Stories about Citizens' Participation Redistribution of Power, Deliberation and Workability Arnsteins's Ladder of Citizens' Participation - Remastered (German Version 2018) The Story of the "Blue Lagoon" and the Problem of "Tokenism" "Do More of the Same": Politicians and Planners put their Faith in "Tokenism" The "Story of the Expertise of Citizens": Deliberation works better without the People The Story of "The People in the Sun" vs. "The People in the Shade" and the Problem of "Traditional" Planning and Participation
Chapter 3: Behind the Scenes: What empirical Evidence is Telling us about the Practice of Citizens' Participation The Participation Dilemma (in Germany): The more Possibilities there are, the more the People Demand and Stay Absent Deliberative Methods Need much Time and Effort and are Unpopular People Distrust Politics and Like to keep an Eye on it Crisis of Representative Democracy: Citizens' Participation as the wrong Medication for a Phantom Pain? Equality and Fairness: Only Elections and Referendums Score Well
Chapter 4: Citizens' Participation - How Gamification can help Citizens' Participation to Flourish Porto Alegre and the High Hopes for a new Democracy ("Old Wine in New Bottles"?) A brief history of Participative Budgeting in German Gamification in the Planning of Big Infrastructure Projects: Workability through Visualization and Systemic Consensus
Chapter 5: Lessons Learned: An Author's Digest Playing (Games): An Enduring Success Story Workability: What Makes a Game Successful? Citizens' Participation as the Reinvention of Democracy: "Who is Going to Rescue the Rescuer?" Citizens' Participation: How to Bridge the Abyss Between Ideal and Reality Two Success Stories about Citizens' Participation: Gamification is More than Adding a Clown to a Citizens' Jury
Bibliography
Index
