Reformcalling

Reformcalling is a term used to describe a civic activism approach characterized by pairing proposals for policy reform with explicit calls for public participation and accountability in the policy-making process. It emphasizes transparent agendas, iterative consultation, and public evaluation of reform plans rather than broad, vague advocacy.

Origin and usage: The phrase appears in online discussions about governance, civic tech, and reform movements in the 2010s and 2020s. It is used to distinguish methods that combine concrete reform proposals with participatory outreach from traditional advocacy that relies mainly on rhetoric. The term is most often encountered in blogs, think pieces, and platform discussions concerned with open government and participatory democracy.

Practice: Proponents encourage publishing accessible reform packages, roadmaps for implementation, and open channels for feedback. They may host public forums, crowdsourcing sessions, and pilot projects to test reforms before wider adoption. The approach aims to build legitimacy and buy-in by inviting diverse stakeholders to shape reform.

Criticism: Critics argue reformcalling can be vague or performative if engagement is symbolic, or if proposals are not binding. It may risk slowing decision-making, create fragmentation, or blur lines between advocacy and governance.

Examples: In a city, reformcalling might involve releasing a set of proposed municipal reforms, inviting resident comments, and running pilots in select neighborhoods before full rollout. In national policy debates, it may take the form of public-comment campaigns synchronized with initial legislative proposals.

See also: participatory budgeting, open government, civic technology.