The Institute for Democracy and Participation Research [IDPF] at the University of Wuppertal has existed since 1975, when it was established as the ‘Research Center for Citizen Participation’. Among other things, the aleatory – i.e. based on random selection – participation procedure of the planning cell was developed and systematized here. It gives citizens the opportunity to contribute their opinions, life experience and skills to political decision-making processes in a constructive and non-interest-driven manner.
