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Reclaim the State? Experiments in Popular Democracy

February 2010

Every four years, in March, the Dutch local elections offer an opportunity for the city’s inhabitants to influence the look and the shape of their local governments. Or do they? What if citizens could play an active part in how the municipal budgets are spent? Is ticking a box on a ballot paper every few years really a democracy?

In the new edition of her book ‘Reclaim the State: Experiments in Popular Democracy’ (Seagull Books, 2009), British author Hilary Wainwright sets out on a journey from Brazil to Britain to discover real-life examples of cities experimenting with another kind of democracy, the one in which citizens actively participate in decisions over public resources and services.

Hilary Wainwright will be talking to AA/DG’s Joost Kircz about his experience of local politics and, in light of her new book, her views on the successes, challenges and future of such experiments in direct democracy.

Panel

Hilary Wainwright, Fellow of the Transnational Institute (TNI), Editor of the British magazine Red Pepper and the author of 'Reclaim the State: Experiments in Popular Democracy'

Joost Kircz, Borough Council (Deelraad) member for the Amsterdam Anders/ De Groenen (AA/DG) party, 2002-2010

Bertil Videt (Chair), Co-director of the International Institute for Research and Education (IIRE)

Hilary will also be available for interviews on 17&18 March. Please contact nina@tni.org

The International Institute for Research and Education (IIRE) is an Amsterdam-based centre providing activists and scholars around the world with opportunities for research and education.

Grenzeloos is a bi-monthly magazine published by the Socialist Alternative Politics (SAP) club.

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