The Role Of Social Work In The Mechanism Of Deliberative Democracy In Letters And Visits

As one of the most socialistic political systems with Chinese characteristics,the petition system has long assumed the key functions of citizen participation in politics,collecting social conditions and public opinions,resolving contradictions and disputes,and maintaining social stability.However,with the acceleration of social transformation process,new social problems and social contradictions continue to emerge,which also puts forward new requirements for the development and reform of the petition system.As an effective form of governance,the inherent requirements and value orientation of deliberative democracy can effectively deal with social contradictions,alleviate social pressure,and help to get rid of the plight of petition work.In addition,more and more scholars pay attention to introducing social work and other professional third parties into the field of conflict resolution of letters and visits.Within this context,this study takes the practice of petition work in N city as the research object,and mainly studies three issues.What is the current situation of petition work and the difficulties it faces?What is the connotation and operation mode in the mechanism of deliberative democracy in letters and visits?What is the role of social work in the mechanism of deliberative democracy in letters and visits?This paper adopts qualitative research method.Based on the theory of deliberative democracy,this paper reviews the relevant research on deliberative democracy,the development of petition work,the reform of petition from the perspective of deliberative democracy,and the involvement of social work in petition work.On the basis of literature review,semi-structured interviews were conducted among the staff of the petition bureau,experts in the field of petition and petitioners.And the relevant information was collected based on the author’s two-month internship experience in the petition bureau.Through the study,it is found that the current petition work is facing three dilemmas.Firstly,the function of letters and visits is unclear and the tasks are complicated.The petition department undertakes too much work outside the scope of its responsibilities,and because of its lack of power,it lacks the effectiveness of solving the problem,which hinders the work.Secondly,the petition boundary was not clear enough and the petition matters and litigation matters could not be truly separated.The boundary between petition matters and litigation matters is vague,resulting in waste of administrative resources.Thirdly,the results of letters and visits are ineffective,and repeated visits emerge in endlessly.The results of consultation are lack of effectiveness and binding force,and the results of letters and visits are prone to recurrence.In order to get rid of the plight of letters and visits,we should establish the mechanism of deliberative democracy in letters and visits from decentralization to integration.Firstly,the subject of negotiation should be organized.We should clarify the participants of the negotiating body,stimulate the initiative of the participants,and put the responsibility in place.Secondly,the negotiation process should be standardized.Preventing before letters and visits,following principles in letters and visits,and evaluating after letters and visits.Thirdly,the negotiation methods should be technicalized.Enriching consultation methods,assisting consultation process with scientific and technological means,changing traditional thinking and making new attempts.Fourthly,the negotiation results should be recognized.We should strictly investigate the responsibility of the party who breaks faith and raise the cost of breach of contract.As an important third-party force,the professionalism and neutrality of social work can provide new ideas for the construction of the mechanism of deliberative democracy in letters and visits.Firstly,it provides theoretical support for negotiation norms.Social workers can summarize their work experience in the process of practice,and then form more effective work processes and methods.Secondly,it provides assistance to the negotiating subjects.Social workers can provide emotional guidance to petitioners,strengthen capacity-building,and enhance their ability to solve problems.Thirdly,it coordinates and lubricates the negotiation process.Social workers can build bridges for effective communication between petitioners and petition departments,eliminate misunderstandings among the main subjects and promote the consultation process.On the basis of the research,this study puts forward relevant suggestions on the social work participation in the mechanism of deliberative democracy in letters and visits from four aspects:consultation system,consultation subject,consultation process and consultation results.We should construct the institutional platform and rebuild the function of letters and visits.Integrate the force of pluralistic subject to improve business level.And we should complete the job of diversion and realize process specification,standardize the implementation of the consultation results and enhance the effectiveness of the results.