In seeking to broaden and deepen the social compact between the government and its citizenry, the Forward Singapore exercise marked a new phase in the nation's journey towards participatory governance — from engagement and consultation to co-creation. This conference aims to advance the understanding and practice of citizen participation, civic engagement and collaborative governance. How might policymakers engage meaningfully with citizens? As more citizens take on active roles to co-create solutions, how do we finesse the diversity of opinions and values at play? What are the conditions under which mass participation results in collective wisdom, and when does this turn into mob rule? In addressing these fundamental questions, the conference will explore: social and “democratic innovations” such as participatory budgeting and citizens assemblies; the ways digital tools can support citizens in careful deliberation and sound decision-making on public policy and social issues; the possibilities of harnessing collective intelligence where mass participation expands our knowledge base to collectively solve what we might not be able to individually.
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*Note: Prior registration is required and a registration fee applies for this conference.