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Democratic Dignity: the freedom and opportunity to recognise inherent democratic worth

Recognition of the inherent worth of individuals and collectives is a vital basis for meaningful participation in democratic life. This includes self-recognition of inherent worth and value to democracy, and recognition by others. For some key informants, supporting this capability is the organisers’ responsibility: ensuring that people feel welcome and valued as individuals taking part in a participatory process. Democratic dignity also interacts with structural systems of oppression, where intersectionally marginalised groups are not or have not been recognised (Walker and Loots 2018: 18).

Downstream Enablers of Democratic Dignity in INSPIRE

„ Access enablers like compensation, inviting companions, and cultural support demonstrate to participants that their presence is valued, and supporting their attendance is integral.

„ Co-creation methods emphasise the shared production of knowledge and action (Higueras et al 2024: 26), enabling the development of self-recognition and self-worth as well as public recognition.

„ Accessibility of the participatory space is essential in recognition of people’s dignity and fundamental needs. In Portugal, accessibility was a key barrier as the physical venue initially allocated for the process was inaccessible for wheelchair users, and the online participatory platform was also difficult to access for some.