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Food Democracy from the Top Down? State-Driven Participation Processes for Local Food System Transformations towards Sustainability

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  • Jana Baldy

    (Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy, University of Freiburg, Germany)

  • Sylvia Kruse

    (Chair of Forest and Environmental Policy, University of Freiburg, Germany)

Abstract

Food democracy is a concept with growing influence in food policy research. It involves citizens regaining democratic control of the food system and enabling its sustainable transformation. In focusing mainly on civil society initiatives, food democracy research has so far neglected the potential of state-driven food-related participation processes. We base our study on qualitative interviews with local stakeholders in two smaller cities in southern Germany where the city administration and city council initiated participatory processes. The study aims to understand how local actors are framing state-driven participation processes concerning sustainable local food system transformation along key dimensions of food democracy. We identify eight categories that conceptually constitute food democracy: mutual knowledge exchange; legitimacy and credibility of knowledge claims; transparent processes for deliberating ideas; shared language for sharing ideas; expectations of and experience with efficacy; role model function of municipalities; raising awareness; and motivation and justification of the normative orientation. Furthermore, the empirical analysis shows that state actors can have important roles in food-related participation processes as potential initiators, shapers and implementers depending on how they interact with local food-related actors and how they design and coordinate food system transformation processes. This suggests that food democracy research should not necessarily conceptualize state actors, local entrepreneurs and citizens as opponents, but rather, should reconsider how these various actors can drive food democracy and citizenship in a supportive and coordinated way.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:poango:v7:y:2019:i:4:p:68-80
    DOI: 10.17645/pag.v7i4.2089
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Aniek Hebinck & Daphne Page, 2017. "Processes of Participation in the Development of Urban Food Strategies: A Comparative Assessment of Exeter and Eindhoven," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-18, June.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. Annelie Sieveking, 2019. "Food Policy Councils as Loci for Practising Food Democracy? Insights from the Case of Oldenburg, Germany," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 48-58.
    5. Annelie Sieveking, 2019. "Food Policy Councils as Loci for Practising Food Democracy? Insights from the Case of Oldenburg, Germany," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 48-58.
    6. Jennifer Wilkins, 2005. "Eating Right Here: Moving from Consumer to Food Citizen," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 22(3), pages 269-273, September.
    7. Wendy Mendes, 2008. "Implementing Social and Environmental Policies in Cities: The Case of Food Policy in Vancouver, Canada," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(4), pages 942-967, December.
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    1. 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.
    2. Alban Hasson, 2019. "Building London’s Food Democracy: Assessing the Contributions of Urban Agriculture to Local Food Decision-Making," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(4), pages 154-164.
    3. 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.

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