MISSIONS PUBLIQUES
IS A HIGH IMPACT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
FOUNDED IN 1998

"In a high-tech society where the people have handed their decision-making power to experts and political representatives, citizens must be able to have their say on matters affecting the future of their community. Otherwise social tensions and inequalities will only increase.

It’s particularly motivating to work with people and give them the chance to take part in these complex collective choices. And to realize that far from individualistic stereotypes, they hope to see a fairer, more equal society emerge.

"The reason I do this job? To push the boundaries of governance at every level, but especially at global level. My dream is a political society where different forms of democracy complement and strengthen one another. My PhD thesis covered the notion of the random draw, a way of bringing fresh views, openness and a long-term perspective to politics. Which is really just going back to basics, of course.

"What motivates me is the chance to give citizens an active role in politics, to help them have an impact on decisions that directly affect them. We set up the mechanisms for citizen participation because we believe that a person’s individual experience makes him or her fully capable of forming an opinion and discussing issues of general interest with other citizens. We help people to collectively take ownership of these issues, whether they relate to their day-to-day lives or to issues of social organization.

"I want to play a role in the collective construction of our society, to make it meaningful. At a time of great change, we need to come together and spend some time reflecting on our shared values. In my view, debate and communication are key to the healthy and sustainable development of our societies.

The Citizens’ Debate on Space for Europe made a strong impression on me. It was organized on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). I worked closely with partners from the 22 countries in which the debate was held, and was at the heart of the processes. The methods used proved their worth when it comes to shaping future policies.

"Our job is to create the conditions needed to foster the emergence of a new collective idea. And when we succeed, it is incredible how innovative citizen intelligence can be.

The citizens’ dialogues on the future of Europe were a highlight for me. They were initiated by the European Commission and came with a series of challenges! Bringing together 96 citizens selected at random in each of the 27 EU countries and getting them to agree on some major issues affecting the future of Europe was a unique opportunity.

"With Missions Publiques, I want to prove that no political subject is too complex for citizens, regardless of age, gender, origin or background. When we engage them in dialogues on complicated issues such as health, technology, social reform or ecological transition, we’re assuming that they are as qualified as anyone to have a say in the future of society.

The International Citizens’ Dialogue on Driverless Mobility, which now includes some twenty cities around the world, has shown that participants can take ownership of a subject both collectively and individually, and reconnect with the political process.

"The expertise that comes from citizens’ dialogues provides clarity, intelligence and a new outlook to decision-making. If proof is needed, take the global citizens’ debate we organized, covering 24 time zones in 30 hours. Bringing citizens from 76 countries around the table and realizing how closely their views convergence was pivotal for me and confirmed the value of humankind’s collective intelligence.

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