Cooperative Discourse

Cooperative Discourse is a citizen participation method to determine and integrate legal aspects in the strategic planning of secure public spaces. Cooperative discourse is a combination of elements of mediation, foresight studies (e.g., the Delphi method) and citizen juries, aimed at solving planning assignments. The outcome of cooperative discourse is a recommendation to the politicians (decision-makers).

Support for planning of secure public spaces

• Facilitation of addressing very complex decision processes;
• Handling of regional planning issues with existing latent or open conflicts;
• Determination of legal aspects in planning of public spaces.

Process description

• The first step of this participatory method is to draw up a catalogue of criteria for assessing various planning options; here a mediator works with representatives of the interest groups affected.
• In step two experts analyse the likely effects of the various planning options in a Delphi survey. In the third and final step citizens selected at random evaluate the options in a citizen jury, with the aid of the catalogue of criteria and experts analyses.

Links and further reading

• Participation & Sustainable Development in Europe. Retrieved from: http://www.partizipation.at/coop-discourse.html [last access: 2012-08-20].