| Abstract [eng] |
The main purpose of the thesis is to evaluate viable prerequisites for success of advisory bodies in the government institutions as a way to ensure the citizen engagement into the decision making. Seven hypotheses were raised based on the collaborative governance theoretical model, which was complemented with citizen engagement and advisory bodies academic literature. The thesis explores the case of Municipal Council for Youth Affairs (MCYA) in Lithuania. Empirical analysis was focused on 9 cases of MCYAs, which were compared according to dependant variable of the thesis, i.e., policy success of three dimensions: process, programmatic, and political. The research was based on qualitative content analysis, which included the analysis of various data: strategic plan of municipalities, MCYAs’ reports, and 18 expert semi-structured interviews. The examination of the hypotheses showed that the hypotheses predicting that MCYA will be more successful where youth representatives are elected, where youth representatives are experienced in the field, and where the municipality is represented by more politicians than bureaucrats of the municipal administration were denied. However, the prehistory of cooperation and trust between the municipality and its youth is a sufficient but unnecessary prerequisite for success, while necessary yet insufficient prerequisites for success are the ones which impose that municipality has to have all necessary documented conditions to act for MCYA, when youth policy is set to be a priority in the municipality and the processes are facilitated by an active and engaging leader. In conclusion, the thesis indicates that when the practice of MCYA or other advisory bodies is seen through a lens of citizen engagement, the documentation can be the basis of successful advisory bodies’ activities, however, it also requires mutual trust and willingness from the government institution to take citizen needs into account, which might also be attained by an active facilitative leadership. |
