La professionnalisation de la participation publique : un état des lieux au Québec et ailleurs

Four areas of expertise Networking, capacity building and professionalization Orchestrating Praticing Commissioning, sponsoring and guiding participatory arrangements Designing, facilitating, reporting on dialogue processes Coordinating Studying Researching, theorizing, evaluation and reflection The issue of the terminology and definitions A new political professions The criticism of the “activation politics”: activation, manipulation and instrumentalization

Contents of the book The PPPs in 6 countries: France, Italy, USA, U-K, Scotland, Canada (Alberta and Québec) Several topics The impacts of the commercialization PPPs as civil servants The effects of public agency orchestrating public participation processes on the practice The dissemination and standardization of participatory arrangements The collaboration between PPPs and academics Origine du livre

What are some of the factors underlying the rapid professionalization of public participation? The proliferation of participatory spaces The international dissemination of mechanisms The New Public Management (NPM) focused on partnerships and collaboration The enthusiasm in academic circles for deliberative democracy Before and after 2000 : a different situation can be observed In different domains, in different countries : The strong increasing of participatory spaces by the offer From different public authorities : federal, provincial and municipal levels From project’s proponents, from entreprises., promoters, developpers The international dissemination of mechanisms The diffusion and transfert processe of specific tools : participatory budgets, town hall meeting (by profesionnals) By NGOs like the WB or others of the same kind and entrepreners associations (energy, extraction The New Public Management (NPM) focused on partnerships and collaboration From the general discourse by promoting values like information, consultation, transparency (for a better efficiency) Through Concrete reforms, cuts and rationalization : to felicitate the implementation of them… The enthusiasm in academic circles for deliberative democracy New publications, reserchs, journals, colloquium, association By new education programs, undergrade ans graduated diplomas or specialities. - Last bullet : those academics are parts of the four areas of expertises that Laurence has presented earlier

The effects of professionalization on standardization and innovation The question of the PPPs’ role in the implementation of innovative practices The principle of impartiality “learning by doing.” a “complex craft.” The effects of professionalization on standardization and innovation - More offer, more activities, more PPP : increasing of diversity or homogenisation of practices and tools? Difficult to identify specific trends The question of the PPPs’ role in the implementation of innovative practices What kind of PPP we are talking about. Different approaches, different background (disciplines, formation) : generalist’s firms or specialized firms For whom the PP is working? The citizens, the public interest, the government, the project’s proponent? The principle of impartiality : A comparison point between the firms. Certain firms will develop a specific market. In a way those specialized firms sell impartiality and develop a reputation on this base. They will refuse contracts that are not give them the space to guaranty this principle. “Learning by doing.” essentially even if they participate to reflexive activities between practitioners, testimony of different experiences, taking seminars on specific aspects of the profession. Because it’s a complex craft. That is the way they learn. Not trough an institutional ways for the large part even if IAP2 and other formation is offer and very popular a “complex craft.” : constantly in an adaptation perspective in relation with the “client”, the context, the degree of controversy, type of project : always unique situation.

Despite the rapid development of the profession, the practice remains fragile The PPPs’ practices remain fragile and are far from being stabilized The rapid development of the participation market The lack of shared norms within the profession