A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Historical trajectories of democratic innovations in Finland
Authors: Lindell, Marina; Jäske, Maija; Kulha, Katariina
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication year: 2026
Journal: European Political Science
ISSN: 1680-4333
eISSN: 1682-0983
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1682098325100040
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1017/s1682098325100040
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523324389
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Democratic innovations have gained popularity in Finland, especially during the last 15 years, at the national and subnational level. However, research on Finnish democratic innovations is still fragmented, focusing on isolated methods, case studies, and experiments. Our article aims to provide a first comprehensive outlook of the diffusion of democratic innovations in Finland. From the 1980s onwards, we identify five legislative milestones that illustrate the gradual institutionalisation of various innovations. Furthermore, we trace the historical roots of three sets of innovations – direct democratic instruments, participatory budgeting, and deliberative mini-publics – and describe their scope and patterns of dissemination. Our inspection shows that democratic innovations have created truly novel channels for citizen influence, but their impact varies greatly. While policymakers still have doubts of citizens’ competences, our analysis suggests a growing role for democratic innovations in Finnish politics, supported by their institutionalisation as well as pragmatic adaptation.
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Funding information in the publication:
This research was funded by the Research Council of Finland (decision number 350361), the Research Council of Finland (decision number 341373), the Strategic Research Council within the Research Council of Finland (decision number 365618), and the Strategic Research Council within the Research Council of Finland (decision number 358426/358428).