Michel Godet warns against the limits of participatory democracy

As Ségolène Royal multiplies participatory assemblies with electors before publicly declaring her propositions for the French presidential elections this spring, Michel Godet, professor at the Conservatoire national des arts et metiers, ponders the limits of this kind of exercise. "If we are not careful, participatory democracy may consecrate the triumph of self-interest in the short-term (the only unfair inequalities are those that we do not benefit from!) at the expense of long-term collective interest. The courageous decisions to be taken regarding the future are rarely consensual and if forecasting needs be participatory, the strategy that it inspires is up to the elected members of Parliament. It is up to them to demonstrate will power and courage in order to avoid participatory demagogy."

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