Public Policy@Southampton invites you to join Dr Bryony Hoskins and a panel of MPs at the Houses of Parliament at 6.30pm on Thursday 6th December to debate ‘The Policy Implications of the Effect of Austerity on Active Citizenship in Europe’
The Participatory Citizenship in the European Union study, led by Bryony Hoskins at the University of Southampton, warns of the danger of concentrating solely on economic policies to create growth in European countries. The research was based on the analysis of data on current policies and practices from the 27 member states of the European Union, interviews with key experts, and data from existing European and International studies.The findings demonstrate a weakening of confidence and trust in politicians and political institutions across Europe. In this context a sole focus on economic policy has the possibility to further marginalize young people and other groups who are facing rising unemployment. The danger is that some are driven towards extremist groups and actions, while others withdraw from participation in public life; thereby raising questions of social exclusion.
The evidence demonstrates that economic crisis has been allied with a change in the political philosophy of governments across Europe in the past few years. This has seen more governments favouring support for community activity, as opposed to conventional political participation, with a smaller perceived role for government in society overall. The combined consequence of the economic crisis and the smaller perceived role of the state have meant that the field of Participatory Citizenship has fallen from prominence as a policy priority at national and local level and, as a consequence, there has been much less funding for the whole domain including through national, local and private sector contributions. Policies that have previously been put in place to support citizen participation in policy decision making have likewise been challenged in terms of their value and sustainability due to falling levels of financial support.
This event will explore the impact of the Economic crises on Participatory Citizenship and the implications for policy and practice.
Keynote: Dr Bryony Hoskins, UoS
Panel: Jean Lambert MEP for London, Gisela Stuart MP for Birmingham, Agnes Hubert, Advisor European Commission
Chair: Prof. Gerry Stoker, UoS
Please refer to our website and attached invitation for further information and rsvp to [email protected] by 30th November 2012 http://publicpolicy.southampton.ac.uk/2012/11/12/effects-of-austerity-on-active-citizenship-in-europe/