Researcher Tommi Laitio´s lecture on the role of groups in building better cities. Held at Svenska social- och kommunalhögskolan (University of Helsinki) course Political Influence of Groups 24/2/2012.

1. group matters
Researcher Tommi Laitio
Demos Helsinki, www.demos.fi
Organisationernas politiska inflytande
Soc & Kom, University of Helsinki
24/2/2012

2. “The role of a think
tank is to valuate
the future.”
Mokka & Neuvonen (2011)

3. think tanks
• a group of people who apply research
• strive to influence decision making
• independent of institutions
• usually non-profit
• driven by an ideology, belief or a
perception of human beings or society

4. three types of think tanks
1. Politically Fabian Society renew political Emphasises the
(UK), E2 (FIN) ideology, support importance of
affiliated political decision representative
think tanks making democracy and
political parties
2. Thematic Institute of Foreign gather and value Emphasises expert
Policy (FIN), World information and knowledge and
think tanks Watch Institute, data, enhance insight, make
OECD, EVA (FIN) understanding of a research applicable
theme
3. Ecosystems Demos Helsinki experiment new Emphasises
(FIN), Young solutions, establish competing ways of
for new ideas, Foundation (UK) new institutions, working and the
“think and do financing schemes need for new
tanks” institutions
(Mokka & Neuvonen 2011)

5. flickr/redcountess (cc)
Why think tanks are
emerging?
• disparity between people´s desire and
possibility for making a difference in
politics
• rising freedom, education, consumerism
(self-expression)
• technological development
• western identity project

6. think tanks in finland
2003:
government
support for
party-
1967: 1974: affiliated Laitos
Sitra EVA think tanks
1961: Demos OK Do
Institute of Helsinki
Foreign Magma
Policy

7. Demos helsinki
• Wiki-democracy: politics where people
together create solutions and not only
select their leaders (demos)
• Future
• Happiness and Meaningfulness
• Neighbourhood-level solutions and good
cities
• Green growth
• 8 researchers
• equal rights, equal pay, public value

8. democracy 2.0 and
the role of groups

9. we need to
rethink
oil peak reached in 2006.
co2 emissions cut by 80 % by
2050 (from level in 1990).
finns have more free time and
more education than ever.
in 2030, population grows
Population change 2003–2030
mainly in big urban regions.

10. country brand of
finland:
finland has enormous
potential to solve
wicked problems on a
global scale.

11. freedom and democracy are
active states.
freedom to / freedom from
“Political questions
are far too serious
to be left to politicians.”
(arendt)

12. society of competent
and skillful groups

13. groups define what is considered normal
• Examples:
How we eat, live
and dress?
How we behave
in a student
building?
How much
energy we use
compared to our
neighbours?

14. groups support us when engaging in
something new
• Examples:
North Karelia
Project
Restaurant Day

15. groups improve our wellbeing: we
feel useful, competent and needed
• Examples:
Time Banks
Volunteering
Elderly Care

16. Traditional ways of
thinking groups

17. Residents of Helsinki

18. Men Women

19. Children and young people
Working age
Retired

20. Residents of
Suburbs
Downtown
People

21. Rich
Middle Class
Poor

22. Straight
Gay

23. cities of
competent groups

24. Dog
owners

25. Dog
owners Cross-
country
skiers

26. Dog
owners Cross-
country
Residents skiers
of
Paloheinä

27. Dog
owners Cross-
country
Residents skiers
of SOK co-op
Paloheinä members

28. Dog
owners Cross-
country
Residents skiers
of SOK co-op
Paloheinä members
Cyclists

29. Community of
Community of Interest
Geography
Residents of Helsinki
City Council City Administration

30. list 5 communities
you belong to.
identify five issues
you could help
the city in.
discuss.

31. (Demos NOW) www.greaterhelsinkivision.fi

32. combining deliberative
democracy and design thinking
connecting
identifying communities
communities prototyping
to wicked
problems

33. hoas lab
– social and responsible student housing
Project of Demos Helsinki and Helsinki Region
Student Housing Foundation Hoas

34. connecting
identifying communities prototyping
communities to wicked
problems - testing in
- interviews - brainstorming one building
- meetings - building - trial and fail
- observation partnerships - concept
- scenarios - selecting ideas development

35. Fillarikanava Vetoa ja Voimaa
Cyclists and the city improving Improving the neighbourhood
cycling in Helsinki. in a coalition of city officials,
politicians, NGOs, church and
business.

36. finland now has 320 municipalities.
the suggestion is to reduce the number to 70.
how could the collaboration between cities
and people work in 70 municipalities?

37. theory of change

38. ONAL
NATI
(IN TER)
POL ITICS
emission limits, price for carbon, subsidies,...
Climate acceptance for Low-Carbon
new regulation
Challenge Society
participation, social innovations, lifestyle changes,...
CITIE
S, PE
GRO ER
UPS,
COM
PANI
ES

39. Researcher Tommi Laitio
Demos Helsinki
twitter: tommilaitio
tommi.laitio (a) demos.fi
www.demos.fi