To help us shape our work on power and influence, we have commissioned the Democratic Audit to undertake a literature review.
The main purpose of this review is to shape our plans for a wider work programme on the distribution of power and influence and how it impacts on democracy and the democratic process in the UK and Ireland.
The Carnegie UK Trust's interest in this issue centres on a belief that a healthy democracy requires a closer relationship between representative democracy and newer forms of participation and public engagement, as well as a deeper understanding of the other forces in society which shape decision making.
To better understand this, we propose a further examination of the distribution of power, and how it impacts on how decisions are made. This means going beyond the political realm, and looking at how power is exercised in areas such as the distribution of wealth and assets and control over the economy, the role of the media, the judiciary, the military, the role of celebrities, the influence of civil society organisations, and the impact of international factors, such as the EU and the World Bank.
The review will help us to achieve a clearer understanding of:
- how power and influence is defined and understood, and how agencies/individuals are seeking to influence those with power;
- how the distribution of power and influence impacts on decision making, and in particular how it impacts on those that are least advantaged;
- the effectiveness of civil society organisations in influencing change.
- the current gaps in understanding.
In addition to a literature review the Trust has commissioned four case studies of recent decisions in a variety of policy fields and the ways in which different groups attempted to influence those decisions. An abbreviated literature review, the four case studies and an essay on recurring themes from the cases will be published by the Trust in Summer 2008. To learn more about the case studies click here.
For further information, contact diana@carnegieuk.org.