Participation and democracy in the twenty-first century city

In: Non-governmental public action

Abstract

Representative democracy is considered by many to be in crisis. However, those who look to participatory democracy as an alternative tend to rely on the example of Athens over two thousand years ago. Since the end of the Cold War, there have been numerous experiments at the city level in participation. This book is based on research in six cities, three in Latin America where the framework for the experiments is closer to participatory democracy, and three in the UK, where it is closer to participatory governance. It explores the significance of these different frameworks and also the practice of participation which emerges. The book argues that participation can be the basis for a revitalised democracy if we are prepared to see it as a process of continuous learning and experimentation, based on equal right to take part rather than equal right to consent to representation by others.