Issues with Engagement
Citizen Engagement as Manipulation
What is this?
This is a tool with some observations and links.
What is its use?
This tool helps you to consider the intentions of government when they advocate the engagement of people.
Manipulation As A Citizenship Issue
French student poster. In English, "I participate, you participate, he participates, we participate, you participate...they profit."
The poster and caption comes from this link:
http://lithgow-schmidt.dk/sherry-arnstein/ladder-of-citizen-participation.html
This link takes you to a lot of interesting information, especially Arnstein’s ladder.
The first rung on Arnstein’s Ladder is labelled ‘manipulation’ – recognition that some citizen engagement is mostly about serving the interests of government. The following sections provide some related food for thought.
Arnstein’s Ladder
Civic or civil?
Should the State involve itself in all aspects of life? There is a view that there are limits to state control and interference. For example, should the State be in the business of making us ‘good neighbours’?
Older people as good – unpaid – citizen volunteers
In an ageing society who is going to look after all the older people? Who is going to pay for their care?
There is a view that older people will increasingly have to care for each other and without pay. Some people think that citizenship is a kind of moral blackmail forcing older people to volunteer.
You can find out more in the Research Review (PDF, 451k) on page 32