Participation in Postpolitical Times

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Arnstein’s work exposed the importance of the political framing work of government authorities in establishing how planners engage with the public, revealing how this tended to perpetuate rather than disrupt existing power relations. This resonates well with work on postpolitics, which argues that carefully stage-managed consultation exercises can be part of a repertoire of depoliticizing techniques that allow the authorities to present their preferred plans and policies as the only “reasonable” options from which a wide-ranging consensus can be built. The effect is to deny voice to those who dissent and to refuse to compromise on an economic and political model they see as broken. In this article, we explore how governments have responded to criticism of participation by devising more sophisticated ways for “enhancing” participation while ensuring it does not disrupt the existing distribution of power. Our research involves a case study of WestConnex, a controversial motorway under construction in Sydney (Australia). We conducted interviews with 25 key informants and attended six public consultation and protest events. We also draw on a range of other material, from official documents and press releases to media coverage of WestConnex.Takeaway for practice: We combine Arnstein’s analysis with insights from postpolitics to uncover the contemporary political realities of how meaningful debate on urban planning issues is suppressed and the ways in which disaffected communities can respond by demanding political voice, the right to be heard as equal. By revealing how higher levels of government can actively work to subvert the role of planning, our research suggests the need to build wider coalitions of interest to resist planning being sidelined and ensure meaningful engagement with the public.