Monday 17 February 2025 (Online)
Democratic processes including policy-making and other political decision-making, happen every day. These processes can be weakened by poor practices or undue influence, with serious consequences for public health.
However, there are ways to strengthen democracy and make processes fairer and more robust. Learn how to identify, advocate for, and enact democratic processes that address issues such as lobbying and other forms of undue influence, and explore ways we can improve the quality of our policy and political decision-making.
- Understand and identify how commercial interests can undermine democratic processes (lobbying, agency capture, commercial determinants of health practices)
- Understand how shared decision-making under Te Tiriti strengthens democracy and how more novel forms of democratic processes (deliberative democracy) can improve the quality of decision-making on policies.
- Identify actions (individual and collective) that can be taken to strengthen (make fairer and more robust) democratic processes
Topics covered
- Commercial determinants of health
- Lobbying
- Agency Capture
- Influence Marketing
- Shared governance
- Deliberative democracy
Style of course
Online Symposium – Multi-speaker presentations via zoom webinar.
Who should attend?
This course is primarily aimed at those engaged with policy and other political decision-making either as experts and advisors, or as public servants. It may also be of interest to a broader audience of people who are interested in democratic processes. Sessions will be practical as much as theoretical, with each speaker asked to identify what those engaging in policy development or advice might do or advocate for to support the rigour of democratic processes.
Provisional draft timetable
Time | Session | Presenter(s) |
---|---|---|
8:45am | Join online in waiting room | |
Session 1: What can weaken our democratic processes? | ||
9:00am | Welcome and introductions | Marnie Pickett (Convenor) |
9:15am | Commercial determinants of health: What are they? Why do they matter to our democratic processes? How do you identify them and their practices? | TBC |
9:45am | Breakout session: Attendees introduce themselves to small discussion groups | Facilitators will guide each group |
10:15am | Morning tea | |
Session 2: How can we address issues of undue influence in democratic processes? | ||
10:30am | Lobbying | Max Rashbrooke |
11:00am | Agency Capture | Marie Doole |
11:30am | 10-minute stretch break | |
11:40am | Influence Marketing | Michael Macaulay |
12:10pm | Panel Q&A with Max, Marie and Michael | |
12:45pm | Lunch break | |
Session 3: How can we strengthen democratic processes? | ||
2:00pm | Shared decision-making and rangatiratanga | Maria Bargh |
2:30pm | Deliberative democracy | Anne Bardsley |
3:00pm | Panel Q&A with Maria and Anne | |
3:15pm | Afternoon tea break | |
3:30pm | Breakout session: Small group discussion on what has been valuable from the day’s speakers? What do you want to know more about? | Facilitators will guide each group |
4:00pm | Report back from breakout sessions | |
4:20pm | Outro, farewell | Marnie Prickett |
4:30pm | Finish |
Teaching staff
- Max Rashbrooke, New Zealand Journalist
- Dr Marie Doole, Victoria University of Wellington
- Professor Michael Macaulay, Victoria University of Wellington
- Professor Maria Bargh, Victoria University of Wellington
- Dr Anne Bardsley, University of Auckland
- Marnie Prickett, University of Otago
- One further speaker TBC
Location
This one-day course will be held online via zoom.
Course cost and registration
Online full day course
$225 early bird, $300 after Thursday 19 December 2024.
A 50% discount is available to full-time students, those unwaged and University of Otago staff.
For more information please contact the course convenor
- Contact name
- Marnie Prickett
- marnie.prickett@otago.ac.nz