Synopses & Reviews
Public participation is central to a wide range of current public policies - not only in the UK, but elsewhere in the developed and the developing world. There are substantial aspirations for what enhanced participation can achieve. This book offers a critical examination of both the discourse and practice of participation in order to understand the significance of this explosion in participatory forums, and the extent to which such practices represent a fundamental change in governance. Based on 17 case studies across a range of policy areas in two English cities, the authors address key issues such as: the way in which notions of the public are constructed; the motivation of participants; how the interests and identities of officials and citizens are negotiated within forums; and the ways in which institutions enable and constrain the development of participation initiatives. Much of the literature on public participation is highly normative. This book draws from detailed empirical work, theories of governance, of deliberative democracy and social movements to offer a nuanced account of the dynamics of participation and to suggest why experiences of this can be frustrating as well as transformative. This book will be essential reading for students of public and social policy and offers important insights for those directly engaged in developing participation initiatives across the public sector
Review
Around the world - including the UK - new policies and innovations in public participation are re-shaping the contours of how and where citizens engage with public institutions. Drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives on social movements, deliberative democracy and institutional design, this book provides us rich empirical case studies from across the UK of what actually happens when publics and public bodies engage with one another. In so doing, the authors skilfully interrogate whether and how these new participatory spaces can fulfil their claims to empower citizens, improve public services and re-vitalise political life. An excellent and challenging read, the book should become a core text for students, practitioners and policy makers everywhere who are concerned with exploring the transformative possibilities of citizen participation and inclusive democracy. John Gaventa, Professor, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK
Synopsis
Recent developments in UK public policy have emphasized the need for greater public participation in decision-making and for new forms of democratic practice. Enhanced public participation is viewed as capable of improving the quality and legitimacy of decisions in government, health services, local government, and other public bodies. As a consequence there has been an explosion of participative forums, including citizens juries, area committees, neighborhood forums, tenant groups, user groups, and groups reflecting what are viewed as communities of interest or identity. This book provides an empirical and theoretical analysis of public participation in policy making and implementation. The book examines the ways in which institutions enable and constrain the development of public participation initiatives and the consequences of this. It also considers whether participation makes a difference to the conduct of officials or to the processes of governance through which public services
Synopsis
This book offers a critical examination of both the discourse and practice of participation in order to understand the significance of this explosion in participatory forums, and the extent to which such practices represent a fundamental change in governance.
About the Author
Marian Barnes, School of Applied Social Sciences, University of Brighton, Janet Newman, Department of Social Policy, The Open University and Helen Sullivan, Cities Research Centre, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of the West of England