Research
POWER undertook an extensive programme of research into political participation in Britain. Further details of POWER's research projects can be found here.
- Witness interviews
- Citizens’ Commission
- Commission briefings
- Democratic Innovations Study
- International Panel
- Local parties project
Publications and documents can be downloaded from the Publications page.
Witness interviews
The POWER Commission met thirty fourt witnesses face-to-face. To expand the quantity and quality of original evidence available to the Inquiry, the POWER research team conducted approximately 150 interviews with witnesses selected by the Commissioners. These ‘interview witnesses’ included senior politicians and those working at the grassroots of political activity, with a focus on practitioners rather than academic and policy specialists.
Alongside the POWER Commission, a panel of thirty citizens met during the life of the Inquiry to discuss the evidence presented to the Commission, to consider its recommendations and to develop recommendations of its own.
Read a summary of their discussions, thoughts and ideas - this is a report of their first meeting.
The panel was randomly selected from the population of Newcastle-Gateshead.
Democratic Innovations Study
[Beyond the Ballot: 57 democratic innovations from around the world]
This project collated, described, assessed and drew lessons from
the most exciting innovations in democratic participation from across Britain
and the world. It will was used to inform the Commission’s deliberations.
The project was undertaken by Dr
Graham Smith, University of Southampton.
Click here to access Beyond the Ballot - 57 democratic innovations from around the world.
Local Parties Project
The local parties project’s central focus was to explore what political and community activists think of their local parties and local party activists. It will also looked at whether and how local parties could forge links with or attract such individuals.
The work was based on three day-long workshops - in Birmingham, Glasow and Somerset. The workshops involved people active in parties, active in politics but not parties, and active in their communities but in a non-political context. One of the workshops recruited exclusively from within black and minority ethnic communities.
The Local Parties Project was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
