Democracy in Action : exploring the interplay between participatory budgeting and environmental sustainability in Scotland
Zancanella, Sophie Lola (2025)
2025
Master's Programme in Leadership for Change
Johtamisen ja talouden tiedekunta - Faculty of Management and Business
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2025-05-09
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505085025
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202505085025
Tiivistelmä
Climate change has been considered to have significant disproportionate effects on vulnerable groups in society. Strategies to counter the impact of climate change seem important to navigate the influence. Therefore, sustainability has become more of a topic of discussion regarding meeting the needs of current societies without hindering future needs. Implementing all three sustainability dimensions, environmental, social, and economic, has been considered difficult. Using methods that involve citizens is considered favourable in supporting sustainability. The research presented focuses on exploring the interplay between participatory budgeting and environmental sustainability in Scotland.
The application of participatory budgeting has been context-dependent. While the process has spread to different continents and countries since its original use in Porto Alegre, the aims of its use have also developed depending on the context in which it is implemented. Scotland has been seen as committed to furthering the process. Its commitment can be seen through expanding a participatory budgeting framework, creating the digital platform PB Scotland and its financial commitment to furthering the process. The research aims to determine how the relationship between democracy and environmental sustainability can be understood in Scottish participatory budgeting.
The research is based on relativism, supporting the idea that reality comprises mental construction. Both primary and secondary data were used in the research. Primary data consisted of 11 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of participatory budgeting in Scotland. Secondary data consists of seven documents and online articles on participatory budgeting in Scotland. Content analysis was used to find out how Scotland empowers communities, addresses environmental issues and how its context influences prioritisation in communities in participatory budgeting.
The study revealed that participatory budgeting in Scotland has the potential to deepen democratic participation while addressing environmental issues. However, clear challenges were identified, such as political leaders, socio-economic barriers, limited funding, and a lack of support for understanding environmental goals. Hence, the implementation of environmental sustainability is complex and requires further support from various stakeholders.
The application of participatory budgeting has been context-dependent. While the process has spread to different continents and countries since its original use in Porto Alegre, the aims of its use have also developed depending on the context in which it is implemented. Scotland has been seen as committed to furthering the process. Its commitment can be seen through expanding a participatory budgeting framework, creating the digital platform PB Scotland and its financial commitment to furthering the process. The research aims to determine how the relationship between democracy and environmental sustainability can be understood in Scottish participatory budgeting.
The research is based on relativism, supporting the idea that reality comprises mental construction. Both primary and secondary data were used in the research. Primary data consisted of 11 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders of participatory budgeting in Scotland. Secondary data consists of seven documents and online articles on participatory budgeting in Scotland. Content analysis was used to find out how Scotland empowers communities, addresses environmental issues and how its context influences prioritisation in communities in participatory budgeting.
The study revealed that participatory budgeting in Scotland has the potential to deepen democratic participation while addressing environmental issues. However, clear challenges were identified, such as political leaders, socio-economic barriers, limited funding, and a lack of support for understanding environmental goals. Hence, the implementation of environmental sustainability is complex and requires further support from various stakeholders.