Itching closer to sharing the central discussion points from all focus groups in DUST’s case study countries, today we excitedly present the outcomes from meetings in Gotland and Norrbotten in Sweden. Join us as we dive into the rich insights shared by the Sami, local business owners, youth, regional officials and DUST partners!"
Before getting into the rest of the post and related to a previous DUST article, it is important to note that terms in one language context do not always translate to another. Such was the case with ‘deliberative democracy’, an academic term not familiar for many of the focus group participants. Instead, terms like "dialogue" and "participation" were used to be more inclusive and understandable.
Attitudes towards transitions were diverse. For example, in Norrbotten, sustainability transitions often denote a focus on "green" mining and wind energy projects. These transitions are often met with varying degrees of scepticism, with focus group participants voicing concerns about greenwashing and the exploitation of natural resources. The youth in Norrbotten are the most optimistic about the green transition, seeing it as a potential solution to the climate crisis. In contrast, the Sami community expresses significant worries, fearing the impacts on their culture and livelihood. All focus group participants questioned the effects of large-scale infrastructural projects, anticipated population increase, and the destruction of nature that the transition would usher in. Rural business owners and the youth saw potential advantages that could result from the transition like improved services. However, the Sami did not perceive any particular benefits and are wary of the expanding tourist industry.
Pivoting to engagement in transitions, participatory mechanisms are embedded in many of Gotland’s regional planning processes guided by the Swedish Planning and Building Act. Although legal requirements mandate consultations, Gotland has innovated with ways of engaging and sparking ‘early dialogue’ by organising workshops, interactive online mapping exercises, and public exhibitions to gather input from the community at various stages of regional development.
Meanwhile, in Norrbotten, there are notable differences in awareness and involvement in public policies and participatory processes among the groups. For the Sami, participation is about ensuring longevity for their culture and existence, while rural business owners are also motivated by the survival of their communities. The Sami have a high degree of knowledge and have significant experience with participatory processes across multiple levels. Local business owners understand the green transition but are less familiar with participatory processes. Youth, while aware of participatory possibilities, feel that such processes are limited in reality.
Like participation in the Netherlands, Poland and Bulgaria, participants raised several barriers to meaningful citizen engagement. Despite strong efforts to include diverse social groups in Gotland’s planning discussions, by for example using digital tools to help achieve more balanced gender representation in feedback, some citizen perspectives may be overlooked. Participants and partners in Sweden continued to explain that while legal requirements foster some participation, the scope of participatory processes in Sweden is limited. The perceived impact of these processes is also minimal, which can be attributed to both human and financial resource constraints.
Overall, focus groups in Sweden underscore the importance of early, meaningful engagement and the need for a more integrated and resource-supported approach to citizen participation in regional planning and sustainability transitions. Follow DUST’s social media channels to see how this develops!
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