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How Civil Servants Frame Participation: Balancing Municipal Responsibility With Citizen Initiative in Ede’s Food Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Joëlla van de Griend

    (Rural Sociology Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands)

  • Jessica Duncan

    (Rural Sociology Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands)

  • Johannes S. C. Wiskerke

    (Rural Sociology Group, Wageningen University, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Contemporary governance is marked by increased attention for participation of non-governmental actors (NGAs) in traditionally governmental activities, such as policy-making. This trend has been prevalent across food policy processes and reflects a key feature of food democracy. However, the role of governmental actors in facilitating and responding to this participation remains a gap in the literature. In this article, we ask how civil servants frame the participation of NGAs in policy processes. Drawing on ethnographic research, we introduce the case of civil servants working on an urban food policy for the municipality of Ede (the Netherlands). Our analysis uncovers two competing frames: 1) highlighting the responsibility of the municipality to take a leading role in food policy making, and 2) responding reflexively to NGAs. The analysis provides insights into how the framing of participation by civil servants serves to shape the conditions for participation of NGAs. It further sheds light on related practices and uncovers existing tensions and contradictions, with important implications for food democracy. We conclude by showing how, in the short term, a strong leadership role for civil servants, informed by the responsibility frame, may be effective for advancing policy objectives of the municipality. However, the reactive frame illustrates that civil servants worry this approach is not effective for maintaining meaningful participation of NGAs. This remains a key tension of participatory municipal-led urban food policy making, but balancing both municipal responsibility and an open and reactive attitude towards the participation of NGAs is useful for enhancing food democracy.

Suggested Citation

  • Joëlla van de Griend & Jessica Duncan & Johannes S. C. Wiskerke, 2019. "How Civil Servants Frame Participation: Balancing Municipal Responsibility With Citizen Initiative in Ede’s Food Policy," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 59-67.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v:7:y:2019:i:4:p:59-67
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jana Baldy & Sylvia Kruse, 2019. "Food Democracy from the Top Down? State-Driven Participation Processes for Local Food System Transformations towards Sustainability," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 68-80.
    2. A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi, 2015. "Accelerating towards food sovereignty," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 563-583, March.
    3. Pål Castell, 2016. "Institutional framing of citizen initiatives: a challenge for advancing public participation in Sweden," International Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(4), pages 305-316, October.
    4. Catherine L. Mah & Helen Thang, 2013. "Cultivating Food Connections: The Toronto Food Strategy and Municipal Deliberation on Food," International Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 96-110, February.
    5. Karen Bassarab & Jill K. Clark & Raychel Santo & Anne Palmer, 2019. "Finding Our Way to Food Democracy: Lessons from US Food Policy Council Governance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 32-47.
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    Cited by:

    1. Basil Bornemann & Sabine Weiland, 2019. "Editorial: New Perspectives on Food Democracy," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 1-7.
    2. Jana Baldy & Sylvia Kruse, 2019. "Food Democracy from the Top Down? State-Driven Participation Processes for Local Food System Transformations towards Sustainability," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 68-80.
    3. Marta López Cifuentes & Christina Gugerell, 2021. "Food democracy: possibilities under the frame of the current food system," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(4), pages 1061-1078, December.
    4. Karen Bassarab & Jill K. Clark & Raychel Santo & Anne Palmer, 2019. "Finding Our Way to Food Democracy: Lessons from US Food Policy Council Governance," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 32-47.
    5. Jeroen J. L. Candel, 2022. "Power to the people? Food democracy initiatives’ contributions to democratic goods," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(4), pages 1477-1489, December.

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