Summary
Contents
Key Concepts in Governance provides a clear introduction to the technical concepts and policies of contemporary governance through short definitional essays. Each entry features a snapshot definition of the concept, a contextualization of the concept, an overview of relevant debates, and a guide to further reading. The book also includes a substantial introductory chapter which gives an overview of governance studies as a whole, orientating and guiding the reader around the issues that the concepts address.
Participatory Democracy
Participatory Democracy
Definition
Participatory democracy is a form of government in which the citizens themselves have the opportunity to make decisions about public policy Participatory democracy, like its close relative, direct democracy, seeks to promote a form of self-determination or self-rule in which individuals actively make the decisions that determine how they are to be governed. It gives citizens a central role in the making of particular decisions through, for example, public discussion, negotiation, and voting. Indeed, some participatory democrats argue that citizens have an obligation to participate. When participatory democrats assign a role to the state, they often emphasize the importance of educating citizens and providing for a form of communication which promotes political dialogue.
One of the best ways to grasp the nature of participatory ...