Title: The demand for dialogue: studying the influence of organisers in public foresight

Authors: Stefanie Jenssen

Addresses: Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo, Moltke Moes vei 31, N-0317 Oslo, Norway

Abstract: What kind of influence do the organisers and foresight professionals exercise over the process of a foresight study or project? Are they architects or pawns in a power game? The influence of organisers on the process and outcome of participatory foresight for public dialogue and policy-making is a still understudied, but increasingly important aspect of evaluating foresight projects. With multi-stakeholder participation reaching new levels of complexity in foresight projects, organising becomes a critical success factor. This paper looks at the organising process and the influence of organisers in a foresight project conducted by the Research Council of Norway, and in a Norwegian municipality. Highlighting the taken-for-granted practices might lead to a better understanding of the underlying dynamics of local processes and the wider implications for the future of national organisations and democratic dialogue.

Keywords: participatory foresight; multi-stakeholder; Norway; participation; organisers; public organisations; environment; public sector; experts; stakeholders; foresight process; public policy; democratic dialogue.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2007.016467

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2007 Vol.3 No.4, pp.403 - 419

Published online: 30 Dec 2007 *

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