Making governance participatory: Citizens and experts in collaborative policy research

This chapter explores the relationship between democratic participation and governance theory. It finds the claims that the new modes of governance promote questionable democratic practices. The chapter argues that the problem can be mitigated by turning to a more progressive form of participatory governance. This is illustrated with three successful examples: participatory budgeting in Brazil; the People’s Planning Campaign in Kerala, India; and the community forestry movement in Nepal. In these cases, principles of participatory governance play an essential role in promoting citizen empowerment through bottom-up approaches, the facilitation of deliberative practices, a critical understanding of social relations, and the role of alternative expertise. Such an approach transfers both decision-making powers and resources to citizens and their communities. In the process, it facilitates greater collective interaction between citizens and experts in policy processes. Participatory governance is thus seen to offer a promising way to advance genuine democratic governance.