Governance and inclusive democracy

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a research agenda to improve on representative, participatory and deliberative forms of democracy. It argues for an inclusive democracy built upon a cybernetic understanding of governance and organization structure.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on complexity management strategies, the paper offers a conceptual construction of governance and democracy. The case of Colombia over the past 60 years is used to illustrate these strategies; it makes apparent that in spite of good intentions, the cybernetics of the country and its cities has faltered over this period, hindering its democracy. To learn how to overcome this weakness and support the evolution towards an inclusive democracy, the authors propose a research agenda aimed at studying the viability of cities.

Findings

The paper indicates that there is a broad field to apply management cybernetic tools in the political domain, as for example the classic archetypes that inhibit the emergence of effective structural recursion and people's local participation in global issues, restricting their social inclusion.

Research limitations/implications

In many Colombian cities and towns people live in very difficult conditions and to survive they often fall into corruption, but others display apparent resiliency, solidarity, communitarian organization and so forth. Learning about good practices should help visualise strategies towards democratic inclusion and good governance.

Social implications

The main question supporting the whole research could be expressed as, how is it possible to reduce power imbalances that inhibit and restrict the effective participation of its citizens? The corresponding answer will imply improving citizen's quality of life beginning with democratic structures to live in and to practice active citizenship.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights about inclusion and effective governance; it argues that “connecting” a local person's views and actions to global policies is feasible and that this is necessary for effective inclusion.

Citation

Bula, G. and Espejo, R. (2012), "Governance and inclusive democracy", Kybernetes, Vol. 41 No. 3/4, pp. 339-347. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684921211229442