Participatory democracy

Participatory democracy is an approach to political decision-making that seeks broad, direct citizen involvement in public institutions and policy.

Participatory budgeting: A process in which residents help decide how to allocate part of a public budget. It gives citizens a direct role in deciding how public funds are spent.
Athenian democracy: A system of government in ancient Athens in which eligible male citizens participated directly in political decisions. It is an early, influential example of citizens governing through direct participation.
Representative democracy: A system in which citizens elect officials to make political decisions on their behalf. It delegates most routine decisions, while participatory democracy seeks more direct public involvement.
Political efficacy: A person's belief that they can understand politics and influence political outcomes. Participatory institutions can strengthen citizens' sense that political action makes a difference.
Citizens' assembly: A group of residents, often selected by sortition, convened to deliberate on public questions. Assemblies turn broad involvement into structured deliberation on specific policy questions.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau: An eighteenth-century Genevan philosopher whose political writings argued that legitimate sovereignty belongs to the people. His account of popular sovereignty helped inspire demands for citizens' direct political agency.
Elite theory: A theory that holds political power is concentrated among a relatively small group of elites. It challenges the expectation that wider participation necessarily distributes meaningful political power.
Social capital: Resources available through social relationships, including trust, shared norms, and networks of cooperation. Repeated collaboration in public decisions can build civic ties and mutual trust.
Deliberative democracy: A democratic approach that gives public reasoning and deliberation a central role in forming collective decisions. Its emphasis on reasoned discussion explains how participation can shape considered decisions.
John Dewey: An American philosopher and educator who linked democracy to shared inquiry and participation in public life. His work treats democratic habits and public involvement as practices learned through institutions.

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