INSPIRE: Intersectional Spaces of Participation: Inclusive, Resilient, Embedded

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Participatory and deliberative democracy (PDD) processes have on the one hand been celebrated for their potential in addressing political distrust and polarisation by deepening public engagement. On the other hand, they are often accused of being cosmetic solutions to deep-seated problems that continue to exclude already disempowered groups (along socioeconomic, gender, racial, physical and mental ability lines). INSPIRE aims to tackle these accusations and failures by fostering intersectional equality, through participatory spaces that are: inclusive and start from the needs and assets of marginalised groups; resilient to changes in government and developing upon existing grassroots work to support community resilience; and embedded within the wider public sphere and in productive relationships with policymaking institutions (Bussu et al 2022a; Escobar 2022). We employ three key ideas: the political economy of participation, co-design, and assemblage theory. We place emphasis on socioeconomic factors that affect people’s capabilities to participate, or the political economy of participation. We use a range of arts-based, digital and creative methods to co-design with participants inclusive participatory spaces that move beyond just talk-centric deliberation, which can exacerbate existing inequalities. To analyse and foster intersectional equality within PDD we need to overcome the linearity and oversimplification that sometimes characterise methodological approaches in the field, which tend to overlook the dynamism, complexity, and messiness of participation. The concept of assemblage helps us look at how different participatory practices coexist, interact and change across local, national and transnational levels. Using these theoretical and analytical tools we can trace more clearly processes and power dynamics that exacerbate inequalities, and we can strengthen democratic and inclusive participation through its many forms and practices.