Focus on people: MSPs are designed to put people into the centre of decision-finding, decision-making and implementation. They are a political phenomenon, in certain ways recapitulating the development of democratic norms and republican institutions. MSPs are, however, an irregular process and often also a surprisingly unregulated one. They are beginning to affect major political controversies and have themselves, accordingly, become a prime object of manipulation.

Sustainable development & culture change: MSPs represent new forms of consultation, dialogue, debate, and collaboration that have emerged particularly in the sustainable development field. These forms of engagement and interaction have considerable potential for the realisation of sustainable development. At the same time, they pose particular challenges to governance frameworks, governments and intergovernmental bodies, and the individuals representing them.

MSPs have emerged because there is a perceived need for a more inclusive, effective manner for addressing the urgent sustainability issues of our time. In general terms, they require not only new institutional set-ups, meetings and timetables, they also fundamentally challenge the culture of politics: While acknowledging the very diverse interests of different actors, they seek to overcome competition. They challenge all actors to interact in a way that allows to identify common ground and ways forward that are based on mutual respect and consensus. They require openness and transparency instead of corridor or “green room” dealing; active listening instead of fighting for speaking time; understanding and role-taking instead of convincing or coercing. They also have the potential of creating new and unlikely coalitions and thus more powerful forces for change.

Copyright © Minu Hemmati, 2006