Salzburg Global Fellows reimagine a more inclusive policymaking cycle that prioritizes marginalized communities
This thought piece was written by Salzburg Global Fellows Vinayakan Sajeev-Beena, Em Hahn, Juliane Maria (Jane) Hilgert, Layla Hussain, Rodrigo Tadeu Guimarães Jales, Le Sen, and Madhumitha Srinivasamoorthy. They attended the Public Policy New Voices Europe session on "Toward Inclusive Democracy: Nurturing Diverse Leadership in Public Policy".
The views expressed in this article are those of these Fellows individually and should not be taken to represent those of Salzburg Global or any organizations to which they are affiliated.
Whose voices truly shape the policies that govern our societies, and whose still remain unheard?
Despite increasing commitments to diversity and inclusion, the policymaking process often excludes marginalized groups, perpetuating systemic inequities. How can governance systems evolve to reflect the diverse realities of all its constituents, particularly those traditionally sidelined?
Marginalization, described by Young as one of the “five faces of oppression”, is the erosion of dignity and agency through systemic exclusion. This systematic exclusion of selected persons or groups of people leads to a culture of privilege and lack of privilege. In this culture, the non-privileged are constantly scrambling for opportunities to survive the system designed against them, let alone graduate into the privileged category.
To offer a more critical lens into marginalization in policymaking, we employ the Academic Wheel of Privilege. This framework highlights how systemic privilege amplifies certain voices while silencing others, mapping the intersecting factors—such as race, class, and gender—that determine access to power. Policymaking that ignores these realities not only risks entrenching inequality but also diminishes public trust and policy efficacy.
The current policy cycle exemplifies and exacerbates these issues. Without systematic and intentional inclusion of diverse voices, the legitimacy of government is significantly undermined and social cohesion cannot be achieved. Literature already suggests that true inclusion demands redistributing resources and dismantling institutional barriers. We suggest that only dismantling barriers, even if attempted, is insufficient and is redundant without creating genuine opportunities for engagement in every step of the policymaking process. Without such measures, policies risk being ineffective or, worse, harmful.
We aim to reimagine the policy cycle to prioritize marginalized voices at every stage, from design to implementation. By integrating their perspectives, we are optimistic that inclusive and transformative policy setting is at arm's reach.
Policy Cycle: Status Quo and Issues
Policymaking cycles typically follow four main stages: agenda-setting, policy design, program implementation, and evaluation. Each stage plays a critical role in addressing societal needs, yet marginalized perspectives often remain excluded.
1. Agenda-Setting
During agenda-setting, media, public opinion, and political pressures influence which issues gain attention. Marginalized voices are frequently overshadowed, as they lack the resources or networks to amplify their concerns.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) can bridge this gap by documenting lived experiences through testimonies, case studies, and petitions. These efforts help push issues onto political agendas by engaging local governments or gaining media attention. Such initiatives by CSOs are constrained by systemic barriers, including limited funding and a lack of access to decisionmakers. In the best-case scenario, most policy systems currently treat civil society as an optional member submitting recommendations.
2. Policy Design
Policy design involves developing solutions or strategies based on research and stakeholder input. Here, too, marginalized communities face significant hurdles. Governments and CSOs often fail to engage them meaningfully, leading to tokenistic consultations rather than substantive contributions. Without genuine engagement, policies risk being poorly informed or ineffective.
3. Implementation and Evaluation
Marginalized groups often encounter obstacles during policy implementation. For instance, they may lack awareness of their rights or face systemic barriers that limit access to new services. Evaluation stages fare no better, as marginalized communities are rarely consulted on whether policies have met their needs. This absence perpetuates distrust and weakens accountability.
In some rather advanced systems (such as the UK), evaluations are adopted frequently. However, the process consistently falls short of recommendations actually being adopted. Therefore, these evaluations occur as a mere "tick box exercise" with no intent to actually make a difference. Avenues for calling out such shortfalls are also quite limited.
Despite these challenges, inclusive policymaking remains achievable. By addressing systemic obstacles and fostering genuine engagement, governments can ensure that marginalized voices are heard at every stage of the policy cycle.
Recommendations for an Optimized Policy Cycle
Stakeholder Mapping: A Foundation for Inclusive Policymaking
Effective stakeholder mapping is pivotal to ensuring marginalized voices are prioritized. Firstly, resources should be allocated for identifying groups affected by policies in order to tailor interventions that address inequities. However, traditional methods often prioritize high-power actors, overlooking marginalized communities.
To address this, Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation provides a framework for moving marginalized groups from tokenistic consultation to genuine decisionmaking. Incorporating the Academic Wheel of Privilege enhances this process by identifying structural inequities tied to race, class, gender, and ability. A reimagined stakeholder matrix can prioritize equity, categorizing stakeholders as:
- Empowered Co-Creators: High influence, high interest stakeholders, including empowered marginalized groups.
- Voices of Impact: Low influence, high interest communities, whose lived experiences inform policies.
- Transformative Allies: High influence actors who support inclusive policymaking through advocacy.
- Supportive Amplifiers: Peripheral actors engaged to validate and amplify inclusive outcomes.
Optimized Policy Cycle: Principles and Applications
An optimized policy cycle must uphold three core principles: systemic, genuine, and valued inclusion.
- Systemic Inclusion: Address power imbalances through proactive reforms. Examples include prioritizing marginalized voices in decisionmaking forums and redistributing resources to empower underrepresented groups.
- Genuine Engagement: Move beyond superficial consultations by equipping marginalized communities with tools, resources, and training to contribute effectively.
- Valued Participation: Recognize and respect the lived experiences of marginalized groups, integrating their insights into all stages of the policy process.
Specific Recommendations
- Meaningful Participation: Policymakers should create accessible platforms such as town halls, digital forums, and surveys that accommodate varying needs, ensuring inclusivity.
- Transparency: Governments must leverage digital tools to enhance transparency and rebuild trust. Estonia’s e-governance model serves as a global benchmark, demonstrating how technology fosters citizen engagement and accountability.
- Local Ownership: In regions with limited digital infrastructure, localized approaches such as community gatherings or town hall meetings can bridge the gap. This model, seen in India’s Panchayati Raj system and Switzerland’s direct democracy, ensures that policies reflect local realities.
Integrating these principles and recommendations can be the stepping stones to achieving a realistic and effective inclusive policy cycle that prioritizes marginalized communities, ensuring equitable and transformative governance at every stage in the process.
Solutions must be systemic, genuine, and collaboratively crafted, addressing structural inequities rather than perpetuating them. As societies globally grow more and more increasingly diverse, inclusive policymaking is no longer optional—it is essential.
The time to act is now: Let us create policies with marginalized communities, not merely for them.
Vinayakan Sajeev-Beena, Em Hahn, Juliane Maria (Jane) Hilgert, Layla Hussain, Rodrigo Tadeu Guimarães Jales, Le Sen, and Madhumitha Srinivasamoorthy are members of the third cohort of the Salzburg Global Public Policy New Voices Europe program. They attended the session on "Toward Inclusive Democracy: Nurturing Diverse Leadership in Public Policy".
In 2025, the program focus is on "Rebuilding Trust and Cohesion in European Public Policy".
Learn more about the Public Policy New Voices Europe program.
