- a seminar about politicians, civil servants, and citizens.

The purpose of this seminar is to concretise the issues concerning the executive roles of politicians versus the executive roles of civil servants, as well as creating a base for further discussion.

· What is the best way for politicians and civil servants to cooperate?
· Is a civil servant just a loyal specialist without opinions of his/her own?
· Should a politician always have perfect knowledge, create the perfect society, and be the perfect example?
· Is it posssible for a citizen to function as a “pastime politician” and only be active in a few specific issues of his or her choice?
· Is it realistic to expect someone to keep a wide perspective at the same time as being able to predict the actual effects of each individual decision?

The plot in this seminar revolves around the decision whether or not to invest in the development of a school. Instead of a costly extension of the school a simple change in the ventilation system is suggested.
A young and inexperienced local politician discusses the matter with a teacher at the school. Their conclusion is that a new ventilation system cannot fulfill the need for more space. The local politician brings up the subject at the next party group meeting but feels completely rejected by all members of the party. For example, an older group leader expresses his disapproval by saying that a beginner like her should gain more political experience before articulating her opinions. Since her and the teacher’s opinions don’t seem to count, they decide to write a petition for people to sign. They contact the press and call upon the municipal commissioner with a protest against the decision. The characters of the play, as well as the audience face a multitude of issues;

· How does one preserve the keenness and enthusiasm of young colleagues at the same time as introducing them to old school routines and traditions?
· How is democracy affected by stress and overload in politics?
· How should civil servants react to decisions they feel are based on the wrong premises?
· Is it possible to use the media without being populistic or personally taken advantage of?
· Is it possible to combine family life with political life?
· Are there differences in gender roles that affect the democratic processes for politicians as well as civil servants?

This seminar functions as a tool for politicians and civil servants on all levels who want to involve themselves in work realated issues. By presenting the participants with a realistic case to work with, the gap between the different professional groups can be narrowed and the understanding between them widened. The aim is to increase trust between politicians and civil servants in order to improve communication and facilitate allocation of responsibility.