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<p>Local food policy councils (FPCs) have formed as spaces for public participation and collective activism with a potential to democratize food systems, and as such have been explored in research as vehicles to realize normative concepts like food democracy. However, food democracy is a multi-dimensional term that conveys different ideas for policy and practice depending on how the meaning of democracy is understood. By using a Q-methodology approach to identify shared democracy <i>viewpoints</i> of individuals in US-based FPCs, this study addresses the question: which norms and ideas of food democracy resonate with practitioners, and how do these perspectives on the meaning of democracy reflect political and practical realities for FPCs in the US context? Sixteen representatives of FPCs across the country ranked 30 statements related to democracy in food systems in an online Q-study and provided expository exit-survey responses. Through interpretation of results, four democracy viewpoints were identified and elaborated, which were: 1) social justice-oriented, 2) results-oriented, 3) redistribution-oriented, and 4) local value chain-oriented fooddemocracy. These nuanced democracy perspectives contribute to the distinct, situated understandings of food democracy from practitioners’ point of view, but taken together, construct a shared concept of food democracy as working to diffuse either-or thinking in a polarized US food policy context and create an opportunity for more inclusive, equitable food systems despite structural barriers.</p>

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Understanding food democracy through practitioner viewpoints: a Q-method study of local US food policy councils

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  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月31日

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  • Julia Behringer

摘要

Local food policy councils (FPCs) have formed as spaces for public participation and collective activism with a potential to democratize food systems, and as such have been explored in research as vehicles to realize normative concepts like food democracy. However, food democracy is a multi-dimensional term that conveys different ideas for policy and practice depending on how the meaning of democracy is understood. By using a Q-methodology approach to identify shared democracy viewpoints of individuals in US-based FPCs, this study addresses the question: which norms and ideas of food democracy resonate with practitioners, and how do these perspectives on the meaning of democracy reflect political and practical realities for FPCs in the US context? Sixteen representatives of FPCs across the country ranked 30 statements related to democracy in food systems in an online Q-study and provided expository exit-survey responses. Through interpretation of results, four democracy viewpoints were identified and elaborated, which were: 1) social justice-oriented, 2) results-oriented, 3) redistribution-oriented, and 4) local value chain-oriented fooddemocracy. These nuanced democracy perspectives contribute to the distinct, situated understandings of food democracy from practitioners’ point of view, but taken together, construct a shared concept of food democracy as working to diffuse either-or thinking in a polarized US food policy context and create an opportunity for more inclusive, equitable food systems despite structural barriers.