Do you represent an NGO or voluntary organisation in Scotland or overseas that is engaged in promoting the interests of your local community?

We facilitate partnerships between organisations in Scotland and overseas that enable citizens to engage with and influence their social and political destiny.

In an ideal participative democracy, citizens would:

			approve and amend their constitution
			form policy
			shape their laws.

Sharing experiences of participation

We organise workshops, seminars and study tours that provide opportunities for practitioners and community activists to learn about the Scottish experience of modern democracy and to share examples from their own countries.    

Examples include:

			A study tour for a group of Vietnamese politicians and civil servants keen to learn more about Scotland’s new style of accessible politics. Read more.
			A series of Café Scientifique events between Scotland, Lithuania and Malawi on Climate Change and Citizenship. Read more.
			An annual John Smith Fellowship programme for regional leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine that aims to strengthen and deepen democratic awareness. Read more.
			The launch of a series of resources which aim to improve young people’s understanding of the political process and help policy makers and leaders engage the public in their decisions. Discover more.

We are also worked closely with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and Civicus on the World Assembly, event that came to Glasgow in June 2006.

The CIVICUS World Assembly is a forum for international civil society representatives to get together, exchange ideas, experiences and build strategies for a just world. For the next three years it will take place in Scotland.

Participative democracy in Scotland

The Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive are committed to encouraging greater citizen involvement and have established mechanisms to involve civil society in the planning and implementation of legislation.

Learn about political changes in Scotland since devolution and our work with the Scottish Parliament.

Sharing views on democracy

GlobalEyes is an e-newsletter designed to help individuals and organisations around the world share information on democracy. Participants at the Deepening Democracy workshop run by British Council Scotland and the Scottish Civic Forum in 2004 came up with the idea as a way to continue their network and activities.

Contributors are currently drawn from people who have participated in British Council events based on the theme of democracy and participation. Themes for recent issues have included sustainability and the growing problem of political disengagement.

If you would like to join the mailing list, or if you are interested in contributing to future issues of GlobalEyes , please e-mail Lucy.Young@britishcouncil.org.

Civil society in Scotland

Civil society played a key role in the formation of the Scottish Parliament. Representatives from civil society were involved in the Consultative Steering Group that laid the foundations for the Scottish Parliament. The Parliament was established on the following principals:

			sharing power
			accountability
			access and participation
			equal opportunities
			Having procedures in place to ensure that civil society remains engaged with the parliamentary process. These include:allowing citizens and civil society organisations to give evidence to parliamentary committees
			including civil society organisations as members of parliamentary cross-party groups
			inviting civil society to respond to consultations on new legislation.

E-governance in Scotland

E-governance plays an important role in ensuring that citizens have access to the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Executive. Members of the public can:

			contact their Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by e-mail
			give their views on parliamentary procedures by participating in web forums alongside MSPs’ debates
			sign web based petitions
			provide input into consultations
			view debates and committee meetings live online
			chat online to MSPs including the First Minister.

View the Scottish Parliament’s e-petitioning facility.

Are you a Scottish NGO whose expertise could benefit another country? We would like to hear from you.

Are you based overseas and would like to attend future events?

E-mail Lucy.Young@britishcouncil.org or telephone +44 (0)131 524 5700.