Recap of breakout-session Renovating our Institutional Home

Institutions are the visible and invisible rules that structure how people in society live together. In this break-out session, participants reflected on whether our current legal, economic, and democratic rules are up to the task of creating a sustainable future. Are these rules helping us move forward, or are they standing in the way? Do we need to rewrite the rulebook? To dive into these questions, participants split into three mini-workshops, each guided by a department from the Faculty of Law, Economics & Governance.

River Rights

In the Law workshop, participants took part in a role-play about ‘river rights’, helping them understand different stakeholders’ viewpoints and how their interest can align with those of a river. “This exercise is really eye-opening for some,” said Herman Kasper Gillissen. “Farmers suddenly realize that their interests can align with those of the river”.

The End of Property Rights?

The Economics workshop called on the participants’ imagination. They were introduced to three different future scenario’s which sparked discussions on which was most desirable and how our current economic systems might be holding us back from the future we want. A key topic was the role (if any) of property rights in achieving a sustainable future.  

Giving Voice to Future Generations

In the Governance workshop, participants did a role-play exercise in which some had to represent future generations in discussions on the placement of wind turbines. This exercise offered eye-opening insights into the impact of short-term choices on long-term futures. “I felt so upset about all these different people having objections against windmills,” one participant said. “I thought: you are all dead in a few years, so why would you need to have a say in this”.

Key Takeaways

At the end of the session, the groups gathered to share what they had learned. Two key messages stood out:

• There is potential to renovate our institutional home, but legitimization is key for which we need strong narratives.
• While institutional changes may benefit some groups, others might lose out. It’s crucial to make sure that those who are often left behind benefit from these changes too, so the our renovated institutional home can truly be a home for everyone.