Democratic Disruption or Continuity? Analysis of the Decidim Platform in Catalan Municipalities
Free, open-source participatory platforms like Decidim, first implemented in Barcelona, have spread widely. This study examines Decidim’s rollout in Catalan municipalities across transparency, participation, and deliberation, combining interviews, a survey of public officials, and platform participation data.
Primary findings
Administrations often prioritize transparency and proposal collection over deeper deliberation
ExploratoryThe platform expands citizen proposals and brings in new participant publics
ExploratoryDigital participation can coexist with managerial continuity rather than full institutional rupture
ExploratoryActivist and technologist networks continue to push democratic innovation around the platform
Exploratory
Methodology
Mixed-methods study using in-depth interviews, an online questionnaire of municipal officials, and analysis of platform participation levels
Application context
Limitations
- Single-study synthesis; context may not transfer universally.
Evidence suggests association within stated boundaries — not universal causation.