Democratic Co-Production and Co-Creation in Action: The New England Town Meeting

Kensington, New Hampshire, United States, is a rural community governed by the New England Town Meeting, a form of direct democracy with centuries of co-creating and co-producing public services. This paper utilizes archival documents and takes a multiple descriptive case study approach with process tracing. I have five findings regarding democratic co-creation and democratic co-production within Kensington. One, it is a bargaining process resulting in restrictions for the public’s benefit. Two, that empowerment and impact are more prominent than equity and inclusion. Three, it is supported through networks. Four, it produces substantial levels of creative problem-solving, power sharing, and resilient governance while ensuring the protection of minorities and increasing opportunities for representation. My overarching finding is that co-production and co-creation when operating with democracy, can improve each other’s democratic outcomes but are only as democratic as the bodies creating them.