Initiatives
We are aware that we have set an ambitious vision and mission for ourselves—ones that require resources, expertise, data support, and regulatory foundations. And, of course, we are also mindful of how civic participation is becoming increasingly difficult, especially when it comes to supralocal issues. Yet, we have still chosen to maintain a big-picture perspective, emphasizing how vital it is to understand that in a hyper-connected global context, every action or political choice made by one actor has direct consequences for another on the other side of the globe. It is essential to view democracy through both its substantive aspects (demands for social justice) and its procedural aspects (the “rules of the game”), considering the exercise of citizenship in a dual form: one rooted in our local territories, and the other through the lens of a “global” common good.
Our approach: political culture
Many people, especially among the younger generations, want to participate and contribute to public life. What is often missing are concrete spaces for listening and involvement. Political parties are distant and self-referential. Institutions do not include people in decision-making processes.
Yet, politics remains the decisive arena for tackling collective issues: inequalities, labor, the environment, and rights. Without political tools, these issues are left without a structural solution.
While on one hand, mistrust toward traditional channels of representation is growing today, on the other hand, new forms of youth participation are emerging—ranging from more informal, grassroots efforts to those that are highly proposal-oriented.
We believe that politics is not just about managing the status quo and emergencies, but also about the ability to address problems of general interest through systemic, long-term interventions capable of acting on a cultural level to transform the conditions that generate them.
At ATTIVANZA, we create political culture: we analyze current events, study public policies, and build vision. Because change requires: knowledge, time, and awareness.
We do not want a politics that takes the “easy” way out with slogans, promises, and simplifications; we want a politics that actually works and dives into the substance of the issues.
Where our initiatives come from
They stem from a set of very concrete needs and from the questions we should all ask ourselves when faced with real problems that directly impact the safety and quality of our lives.
1. How can we address the effects of the climate and environmental crisis in our cities? Who decides local policies on energy and land protection, and how can we influence them? How can citizens guide public investments toward a more sustainable and fair local economy? What tools would be needed to create more active communities in local policymaking?
2. How can we strengthen the role of citizens and civic organizations in European and international public decision-making? Which tools make participation more accessible and inclusive, especially in supra-local contexts? How could supranational institutions be reformed to make them more democratic and cooperative in tackling contemporary global challenges?
3. How can we improve the mechanisms for electing and selecting our representatives? What skills do people holding public office need today? Which institutional reforms could make the system fairer and more effective? How can citizens monitor and evaluate the performance of elected officials, preventing politics from drifting away from the real lives of people?
4. How do we distinguish between reliable news, opinion, and misinformation? How can we engage diverse audiences in an informed and respectful debate? Why is it important to look beyond headlines and truly understand complex phenomena?
Our goal: a new European political generation
We believe in the European project and recognize the importance of community freedoms and regulations, but we also see its limits: institutional fragile structures, the colonial and neoliberal framework of European governance, social inequalities, delays in the ecological transition, and the pivot toward rearmament. That is why we are working to transform it.
If we want a Europe that:
- Protects rights
- Builds peace
- Leads the sustainable transition
Then we must unite people, associations, and networks that share the same vision of the world and of the European Union: one that is fairer, greener, and more human.
And we must bring a new European political generation into the institutions: one focused on sustainable development, capable of global cooperation and inclusion, and far removed from the logics of power and competition.
ATTIVANZA firmly believes that involving those who will be “the adults of tomorrow” in European decision-making processes is the foundation of intergenerational equity—an ethical-legal principle of the EU and a benchmark for assessing the impact of public policies on current and future younger generations.
What do we do?
OUR LINES OF ACTION
Le nostre iniziative sono finalizzate, in primo luogo, a diffondere conoscenza e creare consapevolezza su:
- meccanismi istituzionali ed economici che regolano la convivenza umana (prima di proporre alternative è fondamentale conoscere lo status-quo);
- impatti ambientali e sociali dell’attuale modello di sviluppo economico e le correlazioni con le varie forme di ingiustizia e disuguaglianza presenti nel mondo (comprese le nostre democrazie);
- riflessi nell’ambito locale di scelte politiche assunte a livello nazionale e sovranazionale.
LINES OF ACTION:
LOCAL CIVIC PARTICIPATION
Objective 1: To promote tools of participatory democracy that make civic political action within communities more effective on urgent issues of collective interest (e.g., the effects of the climate crisis, ecological and energy transition, sustainable local economy).
THE “EUROPE IN COMMON” GUIDE
A useful tool to engage local communities on climate and environmental emergencies, as well as labor issues, by raising awareness about the European and national regulations on Sustainable Development (such as the European Green Deal and the UN 2030 Agenda) that local authorities are required to implement. The goal is to use the dissemination of best practices and innovative methods of participation to make citizens and local actors the protagonists in the sustainable management and protection of the common goods.
- Stay informed about European policies.
- Bring best practices regarding climate, energy, and sustainable economy to your local area.
- Participate in training programs to facilitate dialogue with institutions.
LINES OF ACTION:
PUBLIC GOVERNANCE SYSTEMS
Objective 2: To strengthen the active role of civil society in decision-making processes to ensure transparency, democratic participation, and the effectiveness of public policies.
EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Beyond Borders: Building Europe Together
We promote networking among European civic associations to boost dialogue on the priorities of younger generations, consolidate shared values, and foster European integration from the grassroots up.
Give a voice to the priorities of new generations.
GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY
The world in EU
We monitor and support initiatives related to human rights, global common goods, the strengthening of global governance, and the reform of international institutions.
Help improve coordination between international organizations.
Help make European policies more effective for fair and sustainable global cooperation.
LINES OF ACTION:
POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
Objective 3: To improve rules, processes, and skills related to representative democracy.
POLITICAL TRAINING SCHOOL FOR EUROPEAN SKILLS
Training pathways to develop a new political leadership geared toward sustainable development and multilateral cooperation.
Join the training programs and develop skills for the future.
THE PAN-EUROPEAN PARTY I WOULD LIKE
A civic initiative to strengthen the European dimension of political representation and improve existing guarantees regarding transparency and internal democracy within parties.
Participate in the debate and help re-imagine the structure of political parties to be more democratic.
Enhance knowledge, tools, and the vision of representative democracy.
LINES OF ACTION:
INFORMATION AND PUBLIC OPINION
Objective 4: To contribute to an informed and conscious public debate through analysis, in-depth studies, and fact-checking.
THE ATTIVANZA NEWSLETTER
Updates, analysis, and initiatives to stay informed on current events, geopolitics, the environment and climate, social justice, and equal opportunities.
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LINES OF ACTION:
PARTECIPARE
INNOVARE
Promuoviamo strumenti di partecipazione civica, basati su nuove modalità come ad esempio la ricerca collaborativa, che diano credibilità e rendano più efficace l’azione politica di cittadinanza. In un’epoca di grande disorientamento culturale, dovuto anche a meccanismi di banalizzazione della discussione politica, c’è bisogno di ripensare lo spazio pubblico – dai mezzi di comunicazione ai luoghi di partecipazione fisica – per promuovere contesti di discussione costruttiva tra le istanze della società e chi ricopre incarichi decisionali/istituzionali. Riteniamo che una delle vie da percorrere sia quella del metodo: serve intendersi sul significato delle parole, pretendere che le scelte politiche siano supportate da dati ed evidenze scientifiche, senza accontentarsi di vane o generiche promesse pre-elettorali. Vorremmo dedicarci a proposte di riforma del sistema partitico per migliorare i criteri di selezione della classe politica, chiamata a svolgere compiti sempre più impegnativi (come le politiche orientate allo Sviluppo sostenibile), che richiedono capacità di visioning e di strategie a medio-lungo termine. Riteniamo, inoltre, indispensabile un sistema riconosciuto e condiviso di controllo e rendicontazione: attraverso la democrazia rappresentativa, il popolo cede una parte della sua sovranità ai suoi rappresentanti, per cui è fondamentale scegliere con cura i/le candidati/e e, successivamente, poter monitorare l’operato di chi è stato eletto. Anche a livello di istituzioni, sosteniamo una cultura amministrativa più propensa alla valutazione degli impatti integrati alle politiche pubbliche con l’adozione di strumenti, metodi e procedure di verifica. Ciò richiede, tra l’altro, l’apprendimento di nuove conoscenze e competenze e l’adozione di approcci integrati e sistemici, in ottica di Sviluppo sostenibile. Di fronte a scenari sempre più complessi e incerti, riteniamo fondamentale aumentare la cooperazione tra istituzioni e attori non statuali, all’interno di reti decisionali miste” pubblico-private, favorendo processi di inclusione e partecipazione dei cittadini, regolamentando però l’attività di lobbying attraverso un sistema di regole equilibrato e funzionale.
Vuoi suggerirci iniziative, che a tuo parere, dovrebbero essere attuate per migliorare la democrazia rappresentativa, e anche proposte concrete per superare il crescente distacco della gente dalla politica “di palazzo”?
