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The Limits of Deliberative Democracy and Empowerment: Elite Motivation in Three Canadian Cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2011

Genevieve Fuji Johnson
Genevieve Fuji Johnson*
Affiliation:
Simon Fraser University
*
Genevieve Fuji Johnson, Department of Political Science, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby BC, CanadaV5A 1S6, Genevieve_Johnson@sfu.ca
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Abstract

Abstract. In recent years, elites in the Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), Nova Scotia Power Incorporated (NSP) and Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) held consultations based on principles of deliberative democracy with members of their affected publics. I explore five factors that may help us understand why some elites are inclined to empower members of their affected publics. These factors can be understood as characteristics of each policy context and include normative principle, public pressure, policy requirement, strategic management interest, and economic interest. Based on a comparative case study of a series of semi-structured interviews with a range of actors, written public submissions, and official reports, I identify these as pertinent factors and argue that the convergence of the economic interests of the organization and the deliberative empowerment of its affected public is critical. This examination serves constructively in helping us better understand a persistent gap between the theoretical aims and practical instantiations of deliberative democracy.

Résumé. Au cours des dernières années, les élites dirigeantes de la Société canadienne de gestion des déchets nucléaires, de la Nova Scotia Power Inc. et de la Société de logement communautaire de Toronto ont tenu des séances de consultation fondées sur les principes de la démocratie délibérative avec les membres concernés par leurs politiques. J'examine cinq facteurs qui peuvent nous aider à mieux comprendre pourquoi certains décideurs sont enclins à reconnaître un droit de regard aux membres touchés par leurs politiques. Ces facteurs peuvent être analysés en tant que caractéristiques des contextes particuliers de chaque politique concernée et incluent les dimensions liées aux principes normatifs, aux pressions publiques, au contenu des politiques, à la gestion stratégique des intérêts et aux enjeux économiques. À l'aide d'une étude comparative de cas comprenant des entretiens semi-dirigés avec divers acteurs, des soumissions publiques écrites et des rapports officiels, je présente ces dimensions à titre de facteurs pertinents et soutiens que la convergence des intérêts économiques des organisations et le pouvoir de délibération accordé au public concerné revêtent une importance cruciale. Cet examen se révèle constructif et nous aide à mieux comprendre le fossé persistant entre les finalités théoriques et la mise en pratique de la démocratie délibérative.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 137 - 159
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 2011

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