Watch Dr Peter Shergold's CI2010 presentation!

Dr Peter Shergold AC was a CEO in the Australian Public Service for two decades. For five years from February 2003, Dr Shergold was Australia ’s most senior public administrator, serving as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dr Shergold is now the Macquarie Group Foundation Professor at the Centre for Social Impact.

His presentation at CI2010 – “Empowering communities to transform democracy” – is an unquestionably informed and frighteningly real insight into the future of participatory democracy if something does not change.

The good news, however, is that there are extraordinary opportunities for renewal and invigoration if we are willing to be creative & innovative. Dr Shergold addresses five ‘Big Ideas’ that can change the face of democracy:

1. The Resilience Theory. Originally applied to ecosystems, the resilience theory recognises that nature & humans co-evolve. That the eco-system is dynamic, in constant flux, and very adaptive… but therefore volatile and innately unstable. What happens if we apply this theory to politics? 
2. The Hollow State. How outsourcing to community organisations should be a vehicle to create social & public innovation. What is holding this back? 
3. Co-production. Empowering ‘clients’ who have become reliant on government support to be involved in the process of designing their own policies & programs.
4. Edgecentric / Network Governance. To properly engage private & third sectors, to properly empower people & communities, we need new forms of government.  Leadership that understands its key role is to collaborate - it is not a heirachy, but a network of partners.
5. Democratic Dialogue. Citizen’s assemblies, people’s forums, citizen’s services, etc. These devices DO HELP inform & develop policy.

If we pull these ideas together, we can produce a new democratic fabric. There is an exciting opportunity for new-style governments based on interactive engagement, and dependant on ongoing involvement & engagement of citizens. IT IS POSSIBLE.

Watch this short 13min presentation by Dr Shergold as he investigates these ideas in further depth.