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A group picture of the STRONG research team. People sitting in a meeting room around a table.

STRONG newsletter 1/2025

STRONG is a research consortium part of the Strategic Research Council’s DEMOC-program. STRONG sets out to test  whether democratic innovations, especially deliberative mini-publics or citizens’ panels, can improve both inclusion and trust in the democratic system, its institutions and actors.

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News

Stakeholder meeting


In early May, STRONG’s steering committee invited the consortium’s stakeholders to a joint zoom meeting to introduce them to STRONG’s research objectives and to discuss possible modes of cooperation. Thank you to all that participated and we look forward to working with you!


Study on the Turku Deliberates citizen panel published


STRONG researchers from WP 5 published a study on the 2020 Turku Deliberates citizens' panel, analyzing how participation influenced the participants’ views on democracy and their ability to make an impact. The researchers are also involved in developing Turku’s permanent citizens' panel, which will discuss the planned tramway in September, focusing on its impact on daily life, urban space, and transportation. Afterward, researchers will evaluate participants' experiences. Additionally, STRONG is collaborating with the City of Vaasa to organize its first citizens' panel in 2026.


Advancing deliberative practices in social and health care services


In Work Package 4 (WP 4), a university intern is being recruited to assist with a systematic literature review starting in September. The review will focus on the use of deliberative methods in social and healthcare services, especially in enhancing participation among marginalized groups. Mio Fredriksson (Uppsala University), a member of STRONG’s Scientific Advisory Board, will also contribute to the review. Additionally, the project team has continued collaboration with the stakeholder SOSTE, the Finnish umbrella organization for social and health NGOs. Together, we are planning joint events and data collection, recognizing the vital role NGOs play in citizen participation.


Identifying systemic barriers to effective citizen participation


In the spring of 2025, the University of Vaasa-led work package (WP 2) has focused on a literature review exploring challenges in organizing citizen participation across disciplines. The review targets issues related to processes, technology, and public administration capacity, emphasizing empirical studies within public sector contexts. The goal is to build a comprehensive understanding of participation pitfalls, supporting both the STRONG project and broader efforts. Early findings from over 3,500 scientific texts show that challenges span many fields - from practical issues like unclear instructions to systemic concerns such as accountability, lack of participatory culture, and ethical risks.

Publications

Grönlund,K., Herne, K., Huttunen, J., Ikäheimo, H.-P., Jäske, M., & Lindell, M. (2025). Kansalaisparlamentti - kokeiluja siitä saadut opit. Opas puntaroivan mielipidemittauksen järjestämiseen. Institutet för samhällsforskning (Samforsk), Åbo Akademi. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-12-4457-5


Lindell, M., & Strandberg, K. (2025). The Deliberative Type? How Different Personalities Prefer and Experience Public Deliberation. Scandinavian Political Studies, 48:e70008. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9477.70008


Värttö, M., Jäske, M., Herne, K., & Grönlund,K. (2025). The Development of Democratic Attitudes and Civic Virtues in a Deliberative Mini-Public. In T. Ahola, N. Tura, V. Ojanen, & A. Johansen(Eds.), Citizen Participation in Sustainable Urban Development: A Framework for Engagement from the Nordics (pp. 144-158). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003463443-12