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Empowerment Through Participation? Conceptual Explorations and A Case Study

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  • Diane Perrons
  • Sophia Skyers

Abstract

Economic inequalities have been increasing between and within nations, regions and cities, but questions of redistribution have to some extent been displaced by those of recognition, empowerment and diversity in urban and regional inquiry and policy. A conceptual framework drawing upon Nancy Fraser's and Iris Marion Young's ideas about economic and cultural injustice is proposed for evaluating local empowerment initiatives, which is then drawn upon to explore the nature and effectiveness of participation with reference to one specific New Deal For Communities partnership scheme in the London Borough of Hackney, Shoreditch – Our Way, concerned with regeneration. Our findings suggest that while participation is certainly a necessary condition for moving towards a more egalitarian society, current policies are valuable but limited in terms of the degree of representation and the extent of control. They are part of an affirmative agenda – that is, they tackle symptoms but not causes of deprivation. We conclude that if long‐term remedies are desired, then transformative solutions which address both economic and political injustice are necessary. Les inégalités économiques se sont creusées entre et au sein des nations, régions et villes mais, dans les études et dans les politiques urbaines et régionales, les questions de redistribution ont, dans une certaine mesure, été supplantées par celles de reconnaissance, empowerment et diversité. L'article propose un cadre conceptuel inspiré des idées de Nancy Fraser et Iris Marion Young sur l'injustice économique et culturelle afin d'évaluer les initiatives locales d'empowerment. Cette évaluation permet ensuite d'explorer la nature et l'efficacité de la participation en évoquant un programme de régénération en partenariat de type New Deal for Communities, à Shoreditch, dans la banlieue londonienne de Hackney (Our Way). Les résultats suggèrent que, si la participation est bien sûr une condition nécessaire pour aller vers une société plus égalitaire, les politiques actuelles, quoique précieuses, sont limitées en termes de degré de représentation et niveau de maîtrise. Elles s'inscrivent dans une démarche antidiscriminatoire en traitant les symptômes, mais pas les causes de l'appauvrissement. En conclusion, si l'on souhaite des solutions à long terme, il faut des transformations remédiant aux injustices tant économiques que politiques.

Suggested Citation

  • Diane Perrons & Sophia Skyers, 2003. "Empowerment Through Participation? Conceptual Explorations and A Case Study," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(2), pages 265-285, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijurrs:v:27:y:2003:i:2:p:265-285
    DOI: 10.1111/1468-2427.00447
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Quah, Danny, 1996. "The invisible hand and the weightless economy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 2271, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Danny Quah, 1996. "The Invisible Hand and the Weightless Economy," CEP Occasional Papers 12, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    1. Keiron Bailey & Benjamin Blandford & Ted Grossardt & John Ripy, 2011. "Planning, Technology, and Legitimacy: Structured Public Involvement in Integrated Transportation and Land-Use Planning in the United States," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 38(3), pages 447-467, June.
    2. Lupton, Ruth & Fenton, Alex & Fitzgerald, Amanda, 2013. "Labour's record on neighbourhood renewal in England: policy, spending and outcomes 1997-2010," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 58086, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Alex Fenton & Amanda Fitzgerald & Ruth Lupton, 2013. "Labour's Record on Neighbourhood Renewal in England: Policy, Spending and Outcomes 1997-2010," CASE - Social Policy in a Cold Climate Working Paper 06, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE.
    4. Alistair Rainnie, 2021. "Regional development and agency: Unfinished business," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 36(1), pages 42-55, February.
    5. Jonathan S. Davies, 2007. "The Limits of Partnership: An Exit‐Action Strategy for Local Democratic Inclusion," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 55(4), pages 779-800, December.
    6. Angela Hull, 2006. "Facilitating Structures for Neighbourhood Regeneration in the UK: The Contribution of the Housing Action Trusts," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 43(12), pages 2317-2350, November.
    7. repec:cep:sticas:/177 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Lupton, Ruth & Fenton, Alex & Fitzgerald, Amanda, 2013. "Labour's record on neighbourhood renewal in England: policy, spending and outcomes 1997-2010," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51197, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    9. Heike Doering, 2014. "Competing Visions of Community: Empowerment and Abandonment in the Governance of Coalfield Regeneration," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(3), pages 1003-1018, May.
    10. Gillian Bristow & Tom Entwistle & Frances Hines & Steve Martin, 2008. "New Spaces for Inclusion? Lessons from the ‘Three‐Thirds’ Partnerships in Wales," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(4), pages 903-921, December.
    11. Ruth Lupton & Crispian Fuller, 2009. "Mixed Communities: A New Approach to Spatially Concentrated Poverty in England," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 1014-1028, December.
    12. Lupton, Ruth & Fuller, Crispian, 2009. "Mixed communities: a new approach to spatially concentrated poverty in England," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 27086, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    13. Steven R Henderson, 2014. "Urban regeneration companies and their institutional setting: Prevailing instabilities within the West Midlands, England," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 29(6-7), pages 635-656, September.
    14. Andreas Novy & Daniela Coimbra Swiatek & Frank Moulaert, 2012. "Social Cohesion: A Conceptual and Political Elucidation," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 49(9), pages 1873-1889, July.

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