Participatory Foresight as a Tool for Municipal Governance: : From Citizens´ Images of the Future to Possible Action - A Case Study

Abstract

This thesis explores how futures-based participatory methods can improve the design, legitimacy and applicability of public governance actions in rural areas to promote rural resilience. Using a German community, the town of Waldeck, as a case study, a workshop in cooperation with the local city administration was conducted with 14 participants from the rural municipality of Waldeck to explore its future in 2035 under the title “Futures Workshop 2035. Visions. Paths. Transformation.”. While invitation was open to all, many participants were part of the city’s council. The workshop was chosen as a research method due to its flexibility and its potential in yielding results in a short amount of time. The goal was to explore what futures would be desirable for the citizens for 2035 through the creation of images of the future to translate between abstract futures and present-day administration. The focus lay on five pre-defined topics: public services and quality of life, technology and infrastructure, civic responsibility and community spirit, nature and environment, economy and work. The workshop was divided into two main parts: The creation of images of the future in each topic and a corresponding backcasting exercise, each followed by a group presentation and discussion. The participants were divided into five groups, each covering one of the topics. In coordination and cooperation with the city´s administration, the workshop had three main goals: the identification of central drivers with great importance to the citizens, the creation of five different images of the future and possible actions to prepare the future of Waldeck that could be initiated by the cities administration following the workshop. The results were analysed through qualitative content analysis, using notes and the materials of the workshop and its presentations (worksheets, posters, notes) as the primary source for analysis. This is enriched with physical notes produced during the workshop. The workshop was organized in German. The results were processed into a four-page summary for the participants and a strategic paper for the administration, presenting actionable steps and some possible foundational elements for a community vision. A conclusive survey was handed out to the participants in the end of the workshop to enable further improvement. The workshop yielded answers to all three research questions with five different future images, five backcasting tables and roughly 20 potential ideas for action or immediate projects.