How Do Free Cities Bring Their Citizens Back to Politics? Comparing Democratic Innovations in Budapest and Warsaw

The mayors of Budapest and Warsaw offer deliberative and participatory processes as a remedy for populism and growing polarization. The chapter presents the role of urban movements in shaping local politics and describes the deliberative and participatory processes developed in recent years as a joint effort of local NGOs together with the local administrations. It explains how the Pact of Free Cities has enabled the leaders to go beyond national borders to a transnational network. The conclusion summarizes how the two cities have created a space where different voices and ideas can be included.