The State of Vorarlberg on the Internet

Consciousness-raising measures and planning processes in communities create a suitable framework for facing up to changes and steering development in the desired direction. Communities that see themselves as learning organisations are also able to systematically identify and respond to current development requirements.

Achieving efficiency, i.e. doing the right thing, is becoming more difficult. This is why many com-munities regard their citizens as "on site experts" and invite them to become involved in joint planning processes with the aim of achieving efficiency. 

This type of participation is not a substitute for community politics but an extension of it. Community politics still has to make the final decision. Citizen participation serves to prepare decisions and is not a type of referendum.

Even though the aim is efficiency i.e. doing the right thing, participation makes sense. For example, when those directly affected (e.g. parents and children in the construction of playgrounds, youths in the planning of youth clubs etc.) are involved in the planning and implementation of concrete projects.

The time and energy expended by citizens and experts are best applied when a community develop-ment project is professionally planned and accompanied. specially trained project monitors are usually engaged for this purpose. These can provide support as "coaches" or handle the whole of the prepara-tion and supervision.