The question of civil participation in family policy decision-making

Abstract

There has been a sufficient amount of family policy research in Europe, but the focus on family policy-making process is not satisfactory. The policy-making process is influenced by political, economic, socio-cultural context. Policy formation and analysis processes are intermixed. The aim of the paper is to analyse the use of scientific analysis and civil participation in the family policy decision-making process. The object of the paper is family policy decision-making process. The paper presents answers for the questions: how the scientific analysis is used in family policy decision-making, who is invited to participate in the process and who has the power to adjust the suggestions. The paper presents the results of the surveys conducted in 2010, highlighting the approach of 34 family policy experts to the problems in family policy issues. The confidentiality of the informants was assured, in accordance to professional ethics. The experts were selected through a purposive sampling strategy. The research technique is an in-depth expert interview. The analysis of the research results suggest that family policy legislation acts are hastily conceived, paying scant regard to the scientific analysis of the situation and research recommendations. The participation of non-governmental organisations or scientists in the formulation of legislation is more formal. The lack of citizenship results in the fact that non-governmental organisations and society play a passive role in expressing their interests. Such a situation has a negative impact on the assessment of family needs. According to experts, all this leads to passing ineffective legislation and establishing reckless and inadequate to the situation procedures.