Leading with the question “How can we surf the wave of participative democracy?”, our intention was to open and facilitate a process for learning, reflection and exchange. The surfing metaphor emerged in response to the physical stance of one of the facilitators – like standing on a surfboard on a mighty wave.

Initiated by the Büro für Zukunftsfragen (Office for future-related issues) in Vorarlberg/Austria, the European Institute for Public Participation and the Staatsministerium Baden-Württemberg (State Ministry of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany) the Surfing Democracy II conference brought together facilitators, public administrators, civil society actors, foundations, researchers, and politicians committed to public participation and participative democracy.