Mikael Klintman
Professor
Participation in Green Consumer Policies: Deliberative Democracy under the Wrong Conditions?
Author
Summary, in English
In policy debates about reducing environmental and social harms, political
consumerism is often called for by actors from a broad political spectrum. This paper
examines traits of deliberative democracy in cases where instruments of political
consumerism (eco-labelling, certificates and standards) are developed. The empirical cases
are processes surrounding eco-labelled, standardised forestry, food and electricity in
Sweden. In green forestry certification, deliberative processes have taken place close to
deliberative democracy ideals. Yet, these processes have been made possible because of
equal power levels, although power, according to deliberative theory, should be irrelevant.
In organic food labelling, a smothering consensus climate has enabled deliberation,
although such a policy condition is at odds with certain deliberative democracy ideals. In
electricity labelling, its deliberative processes were embraced by everyone, although the
problem scope was narrowly defined, whilst fundamental problems were not addressed. If
deliberative democracy researchers become involved in critical frame reflection in
consumer-oriented policy making, changes can be made that help reduce environmental
harms and strengthen public engagement in political consumerism.
consumerism is often called for by actors from a broad political spectrum. This paper
examines traits of deliberative democracy in cases where instruments of political
consumerism (eco-labelling, certificates and standards) are developed. The empirical cases
are processes surrounding eco-labelled, standardised forestry, food and electricity in
Sweden. In green forestry certification, deliberative processes have taken place close to
deliberative democracy ideals. Yet, these processes have been made possible because of
equal power levels, although power, according to deliberative theory, should be irrelevant.
In organic food labelling, a smothering consensus climate has enabled deliberation,
although such a policy condition is at odds with certain deliberative democracy ideals. In
electricity labelling, its deliberative processes were embraced by everyone, although the
problem scope was narrowly defined, whilst fundamental problems were not addressed. If
deliberative democracy researchers become involved in critical frame reflection in
consumer-oriented policy making, changes can be made that help reduce environmental
harms and strengthen public engagement in political consumerism.
Department/s
- Sociology
Publishing year
2009
Language
English
Pages
43-57
Publication/Series
Journal of Consumer Policy
Volume
32
Issue
1
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)
Keywords
- Green consumerism
- Deliberative democracy
- Political consumerism
- Market-based deliberation
- Eco-labelling
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0168-7034