23 June 2009

GPPi launches new research project on the role and success of round tables

The Global Public Policy Institute has launched a new research project entitled “Role and Success Factors of Round Tables”. The project is being funded by Breuninger Stiftung and will result in the publication of a study entitled “Funktionen und Erfolgsfaktoren Runder Tische”. The project is part of GPPi’s ongoing work focusing on Networks and Partnerships.

In Germany and abroad, traditional governmental and administrative functions are reaching their limits. On the one hand, the state, working with a modest budget, is overstretched with regulating the increasingly complex and ever changing needs of modern societies. On the other, citizens are increasingly vociferous, calling for their demands to be heard on issues that impact their day-to-day lives. Meanwhile, established forms of participation, namely voting, seem unable to satiate these demands.

As a consequence, new forms of voluntary activities by civil society and public-private cooperation have emerged in Germany over past years, including multistakeholder dialogues and public-private partnerships. Round tables play a significant role in this context. As a dialogue forum, round tables bring together a broad array of stakeholders for a specific purpose. Participants enjoy a great sense of inclusiveness and cooperation, jointly searching for solutions to those challenges that are insufficiently addressed by the state alone. Nonetheless, while round tables and other initiatives make an important contribution to the development of a civil society, they face several challenges.

GPPi has been assigned by the Breuninger Stiftung to conduct a study on the role and success factors of round tables. The study will analyse limits of classical governmental and administrative actions and will discuss how these gaps can be filled. Moreover, it will classify different forms of round tables and will define challenges and success factors.

For more information in the project, please visit the project page.

For additional information please contact Kristina Thomsen

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