| Power, Participation and Political Renewal: Case Studies in Public Participation Contributor(s): Barnes, Marian (Author), Newman, Janet (Author), Sullivan, Helen (Author) |
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ISBN: 1861346689 ISBN-13: 9781861346681 Publisher: Policy Press OUR PRICE: $130.10 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: February 2007 Annotation: 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 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Civil Rights - Political Science | Civics & Citizenship - Political Science | Public Policy - Social Policy |
| Dewey: 323.042 |
| LCCN: 2007390905 |
| Physical Information: 232 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: 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 |
Contributor Bio(s): Barnes, Marian: - Marian Barnes is professor emeritus of social policy at the University of Brighton. |