Resilient Communities in the Lake Constance Model Region: Robust and Agile through Participation 

Democracies only function with active participation of their citizen. The basis for this is the ability and possibility for a reflected and critical discussion. The question of the participation of citizens is elementary. The Lake Constance region has the opportunity to learn from the different political and social cultures and approaches of the surrounding countries and communities. The project "Resilient Communities in the Lake Constance Model Region: Robust and Agile through Participation" is dedicated to this.

The IBH-funded research project was carried out by the FHV, Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen and the University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland (formerly FHS St. Gallen). The focus was on the cross-border investigation of forms and formats of citizen:in participation in municipalities from the three countries. On the basis of the data collected on participation projects already carried out in the participating municipalities, success factors and stumbling blocks were derived. These were translated into a handout for municipalities, which is intended to support them as a practice-oriented, experience-based guide with recommendations for action in the preparation and implementation of participation projects. In addition to concrete tips, it also contains an innovative phase model for municipal participation processes, from the start of the project to the final phase.