PARTICIPATION OF CITIZENS IN DECISION- MAKING PROCESS: ALBANIAN CASE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Citizen participation is an opportunity given to individuals to influence public decisions and known as component of the democratic decision-making process due to positive effect on the quality of democracy. In literature as well as in practice, the forms of citizen participation start from general consultations and send comments to the draft law by electronic mail to direct negotiations based on strategic deals for partnership; from public debates to the bodies led by civil society organizations (CSO). This research focuses on participation of citizens in decision making and its impact on democratization and development process in Albania by examining the forms, obstacles to and opportunities for citizen participation. It aims to define the key patterns of decisions-making process in Albania by including the features of the interactive decision-making models and the citizens’ participation models in the decision making process. The original contribution of this research is an empirical analysis of citizens’ participation in Albania. The primary research includes the surveys conducted during the summer 2018 and fall 2019 with civil servants and citizens in the decision making process. The study highlights several issues such as: i) the policy actors engaged in different stages of the decision-making process; ii) the degree and level of citizen’s involvement in public decisions making process; iii) increasing transparency and accountability of government to build effective citizen participation and iv) bringing a solution to this problem in further research and action in this direction. v Based on empirical research, the thesis finds that Albanian citizens are aware that their voice is not heard or taken into consideration by the responsible authorities in the decision-making process in Albania due to the lack of a control mechanism during the decision making process and misfit of interest between decision making authorities and citizens. In conclusion, citizens should be an integral part of decision-making process, and when faced with a lack of service, institutions must act immediately to resolve this issue. In conclusion, citizens should be an integral part of decision-making process, and when faced with a lack of service, institutions must act immediately to resolve this issue.