What appears below is one model of a system designed to assist people and societies in political communication, policy development, political action and implementation of policy. It is presented in an attempt to stimulate discussion about how to improve the ways in which we "do politics". It is not a space for debate on general or diverse political issues. Comments on the concept, the system (which is based on themes or problem-areas -- its application for polities, territories and constituencies is not articulated here) and the role of communication technology are invited in an on-line "general and development space" -- see below. A "state of the art" discussion is strived for, with exchange of experience and information about alternative models and "best practice" examples.
Purpose
OPEN FORUM is for citizens' deliberation of political and social challenges and problems. It aims to promote and assist citizen involvement in public affairs, to be a place where the seeds of public policy can germinate and maybe grow. Citizens can inform themselves, debate with others, then use their new knowledge, experience and confidence to allow them to take more influence upon matters of public concern -- on things which are usually decided behind closed doors by governments, officials and businessmen. Through this forum and similar, perhaps local and regional "clones" ;-), aided by new electronic media, they can put new issues -- things which are important to THEMSELVES -- on the agenda of public attention. It remains important to "reach out" of cyberspace to the many who, for one or another reason, are unconnected.
One way forward is together to help decide upon how OPEN FORUM should be built, for instance which "root" fora may be needed. These special fora can allow discourse in those fields of human life which already play a role in governance, and be supplemented with other topics which are of concern to many citizens.
Raise issues, bring problems, plans, ambitions, your creative fantasy. Suggest topics which may be fundamental (see suggested "root fora" below) or specialised. Suggest technical improvements (which hard and software should be tried, how can we respond if numbers of participants and/or fora, regions, languages, become very large?). Try to visualise how the open forum idea might develop in your town, region, country and internationally. Start a local or regional theme- and issue-based open forum and tell us about your experiences.
WORK, ECONOMICS
TRANSPORT
TECHNOLOGY
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
PUBLIC FINANCE
PEACE, CONFLICT, HUMAN RIGHTS*
MINORITIES
LEISURE, SPORT
INTERNAL AFFAIRS, JUSTICE
HEALTH*
GENDER
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ENVIRONMENT
EDUCATION, SCIENCE*
CULTURE
COMMUNICATION
BUILDING, PLANNING
ANIMALS
AGRICULTURE, NUTRITIONEUROPE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
FUNDAMENTALS
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