The participatory budgeting and the collaborative governance movement at the Hungarian local government level

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of participatory budgeting (PB) practices in Hungary by offering a general overview of the evolution across the country and exploring the deeper experiences of three local governments. The research specifically investigates the environmental conditions conducive to PB adoption, internal organizational factors influencing its success, and the short- and long-term outcomes of the process. While well-developed democracies with active local communities have a long tradition of participation and cooperation between government and citizens, the Hungarian context offers a unique examination of PB due to the fragmented structure of the local government system, its developing civil sector and historical mistrust between government and civil society. However, during increasing governmental centralization, local initiatives advocating for citizen-driven budgets are emerging. Based on recent data and by confronting interviewees with their original expectations, this research explores whether the PBs under review were successfully implemented as a collaborative process in this challenging environment. The low participation rate of Hungarian PB (3–5 per cent) indicates significant challenges in fostering community collaboration in highly participatory practices. However, the year-to-year increasing trends in both the number of submitted ideas and the number of votes reflect a promising trajectory. The research relies on desk research, analysing secondary data on PB practices (participation, implementation), as well as interviews with six stakeholders who are ‘owners’ or facilitators of the projects.