CSO Consultations in Slovenia

In May 2025, the Slovenian TRUEDEM team conducted two consultative activities at the Faculty of Social Sciences, of the University of Ljubljana: a World Café workshop (6 May) and a focus group discussion (13 May). The participants were mainly representatives of democracy advocacy organisations, grassroots organisations and trade unions. Most hold leading roles within their organisations and have direct advocacy experience. Both activities addressed the central question: How to involve citizens in democratic innovations, how to involve civil society in democratic innovations in order to develop a process of political trust?

Three topics were discussed in the World Café: (1) principles of organising democratic innovations, (2) promoting participation in democratic innovations, and (3) limitations of their use. The focus group provided space for exchange of views on participatory democracy and experiences with democratic innovations. Across both activities, participants repeatedly raised several important points.

(1) Transparency, integrity and accountability are crucial for the meaningful implementation of democratic innovations.

(2) Structured communication and open dialogue between decision-makers, civil society and citizens are necessary.

(3) The competences and responsibilities of all relevant actors (decision-makers, civil servants, civil society organisations and citizens) are important.

(4) Education and political socialisation should take place at all levels, including all relevant actors (decision-makers, civil servants, civil society organisations and citizens).

(5) Stable funding and a long-term perspective are necessary for sustainability.

(6) The local level is the most appropriate entry point – mechanisms such as participatory budgeting allow citizens to see tangible results and learn about participation, which can then be transferred to higher levels.

(7)     The main obstacles include limited resources and capacity of civil society, lack of openness and fear of participatory democracy among decision-makers, declining political trust among citizens, as well as populism, polarisation and corruption.