Interactive Methods of Participation and Decision A
Objectives
Environmental decisions are frequently controversial due to its multi-disciplinarity and cross-cutting variety of issues. In face of this reality, there is a need to develop new and more adequate tools to deal with the uncertainty and ambiguity characterizing the decision-making processes. Students should be able to: understand the trends which underlie complex problems; critically evaluate decision-making processes; implement and evaluate participatory processes to assure joint collaborative decision making when required.
This course aims, more specifically:
(1) Make students aware and prepare them for the understanding of the key aspects and conceptual framework of support to the collaborative processes of decision;
(2) Acquisition of key concepts for the operationalization of active participation;
(3) Development of competences in the structuring and conducting of interactive methodologies in practice;
General characterization
Code
9783
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Lia Maldonado Teles de Vasconcelos
Hours
Weekly - 3
Total - 84
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
There are no pre-requirements
Bibliography
Breslin, J. William; Rubin, Jeffrey Z. Ed. (1995). Negotiation Theory and Practice. The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. Cambridge, MA, USA
Dryzek, John S. (2000). Deliberative Democracy and Beyond. Liberals, Critics, Contestations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
Innes, Judith E; David E Booher (2010) Planning with Complexity: An Introduction to Collaborative Rationality for Public Policy. Taylor and Francis, NY, USA
Susskind, Lawrence; McKearnan, Sarah; Thomas-Larmer, Jennifer (Ed.) (1999). The Consensus Building Handbook. A Comprehensive Guide to Reaching Agreement. Sage Publications, Inc. Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
van den Belt, M. (2004) Mediated Modeling: A System Dynamics Approach to Environmental Consensus Building. Island Press, Washington, USA
Teaching method
Part expository this course recur to innovative techniques of teaching inspired in Dewey and Freire, aiming to turn the student into an active agent. He/she is encouraged to analyze/interpret/debate/reflect/explore a real case, applying quantitative/qualitative methodologies learned, consolidating acquired knowledge and creating competences in its use, tutorially supported by the faculty.
Evaluation method
The evaluation is supported by the development of an individual work assignment.
The work assignment which grade should be equal or superior to 9.5, is supported tutorially by the faculty, having four moments along the semester in which the students receive feedback and guidelines from the professor on parts of the work that are handed in by the students. This allows them to improve and adjust the work assignment until the hand in of the final written document. After the handed in of the final written document the students present the work orally within a time frame established, and they are encouraged to explore creative and adequate forms of communication.
Subject matter
Governance: formal and informal democratic structures. Legal framework for participation. The role of public administration. Theory and practice of interactive methodologies and collaborative participation (3rd generation): a) identification and assessment of key actors, their interests and perceptions; b) Stakeholder mapping, relationship and conflict networks; c) Perception and risk assessment; d) Facilitation techniques, negotiation and environmental mediation – principles and practical applications. Information, communication and involvement of citizens, NGO and the private sector. Integration of interactive methods in studies/plans/projects. Key aspects, methodologies and tools of participated modeling. Case studies: qualitative and quantitative approaches. Case studies I – Environmental conflicts: a) Nimby effect; b) structuring participatory processes for conflict resolution. Case studies II – Environmental and Land Use policies: a) development of strategies and policies; b) structuring consensus building processes. New forms of citizenship and corporate social responsibility: the role of environmental engineers.