The Role of Societal Groups in bringing about a Policy of Sustainable Development

This paper has as topic the concept of participation, which in addition to ecological, economic and social objectives is described as the fourth dimension of sustainable development. The point of departure is that sustainable development is primarily a process of social change. This presupposes that social actors modify their social interaction in the direction of a more sustainable society. The hypothesis is that this is possible only if a process of genuine social participation is brought about. We wish to approach participation using a broad definition. In policy literature the impression is usually given that participation primarily takes place within formal consulting bodies in which the traditional societal groups (the mid-field) are represented. In this way participation is reduced to involvement in forums that provide input to certain policy processes. While we recognize the importance of these forms of participation, we wish to make use of a wider context. After all, all social actors can contribute or participate purposively in several domains of social interaction (etymology of 'participating') in the process of social change that we call sustainable development. This can be both formal and informal and take place in the realms of politics and economics but also in those of art, religion or other contexts. It is a societal challenge to provide the institutional framework that will allow and even facilitate these forms of participation. The permeability of the governmental structures and processes of policymaking must be increased and the traditional neo-corporate orientation must be abandoned.status: publishe