CONSENSUAL CULTURE IN DENMARKKarl Löfgren, PhD

Department of Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University.

”STATE TRADITIONS” (LOUGHLIN & PETERS, 1997)

Element/ Tradition

”Anglo-saxon”

”Germanic” ”French” ”Scandinavian”

State-society

Pluralist Organic Antagonist ”Organistic”

Pol.org. Limited federalism

Integrated Centralised De-centralised

Basis for policy style

Increment-alism

’Rechtsstat’ – corporatism

’Rechtsstat’ - technocracy

Consensual

A BRIEF POLITICAL HISTORY OF DENMARK

1660-1848 Absolutism 1849 The first democratic constitution

(grundlov) 1901 Parliamentarism 1953 Revision of the constitution 1973 Entry to the EEC 2007 The structural reform (a new political

map)

THE PREMISES FOR A CONSENSUAL POLITICAL CULTURE – THE ’NORMAL’ EXPLANATIONS Homogenous population (language, religion,

ethnicity) A multi-party system An ideal of equality – lack of certain privileged

groups A republican democratic ideal – state and civil

society are not considered to be opponents (samfund)

High degree of trust (in government and other citizens)

A shared understanding of a joint (national) destiny

A high degree of organisational/political experience

EXAMPLES OF INSTITUTIONALISED FORMS OF CONSENSUAL POLITICAL CULTURE

The consensual culture during the legislative work in parliament

The self-organised labour market policy

New forms of advisory boards in local governments

Board of technology assessment: consensus conferences, expert hearings etc.

THE CONSENSUAL CULTURE IN THE DANISH PARLIAMENT

The classical form of lobbyism is not common in the Danish parliament.

Several commissions with representatives from organised interests at the beginning of the law processes

The constitutional requirement of minimum 30 days between the first reading of a bill and the decision in parliament – the open door for external outputs to the standing committee.

The tradition of broad coalitions between the political parties (e.g. the budget act).

THE SELF-ORGANISED LABOUR MARKET

Labour market relations are by and large regulated by general agreements between employers and the trade unions.

The system goes back to 1899. A well-developed system of negotiations and

arbitration. Few examples of government interventions. Both central and decentral institutions

NEW ADVISORY BOARDS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

From the right be heard (1980s) to fully integrated partners in local decision-making

Function in many local areas (’perish’) as the coupling between the local civil society (e.g. sports associations, the church etc) and the local government in matters concerning service delivery.

Although no formal decision-making competences, there is a committment among politicians and civil servants to pay attention to what is being said and discard citizen voices.

CONSENSUS CONFERENCES ORGANISED BY THE TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT BOARD

The first one was held in 1987 (based on US experiments)

A group of ’lay-citizens’ are chosen to examine a technological issue, discuss possible problems, cross-examine experts, and arrive at a consensual recommendation.

The form has been tried outside the field of technology assessment (e.g. the Euro referendum in 2002)

Are taken seriously and into account by the politicians

SOME CONCLUSIONS The political consensual culture in Denmark is

based on years of experiences. However, that does not mean that certain

institutional forms cannot function outside Denmark.

A couple of things are worth remembering though:

The Danish style of consensual culture is more time-consuming.

It also requires a more open attitude towards other actors in politics.

Consensus means compromising with ideals, ideologies and world views.