Participatory Democracy : Means, Component, & Importance

Rather than choosing a representative to represent them in politics, people of a country with a participatory democracy or Direct democracy actively participate in policy-making. As an experiment, this kind of democracy has been imposed on countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Iceland, New Zealand, and Switzerland.

In this article, we’ll be learning more about participatory democracy, its components, and its functioning.

Components of Participatory Democracy

Here are some of the listed components of participatory democracy along with their description:

Components of Participatory Democracy	Description
Citizen Engagement	Citizens are actively involved in decision-making and governance
Direct Participation	Citizens are directly involved in policy formulation and implementation
Grassroots Movements	Actions taken by community members against societal problems
Deliberative Process	Exchange of ideas for reaching a reasonable decision
Collaborative decision-making	Different stakeholders arrive at a majority agreement
Participatory Budgeting	Citizens can allocate public funds on the basis of community needs
Civic Empowerment	Citizens with knowledge, skills, and resources can participate in governance
Inclusive Governance	Participation of different groups in decision making

Participatory Democracy

Participatory democracy directly includes the citizens in collective decision-making. There are various origins through which participatory governance can be carried out which includes online platforms, town hall meetings and citizen assemblies. It provides answerability and transparency which give strength to  the democratic voice of the citizens by ensuring that they all are valued and heard.

This type of democracy works on the basis of public participation, which requires the involvement of the public in the governance of the nation. The citizens can be involved in the decision-making process. But the limit to which political participation is considered appropriate is still in debate among various political philosophers.

Historical Evolution of Participatory Democracy

The participatory form of democracy started to develop during ancient civilizations such as Athens, where citizens directly participated in the political activities through assemblies and direct voting. But, the concept started to develop more during the 20th century, with the efforts of political philosophers like Carole Pateman and Robert Dahl.

The concept of participatory democracy started emerging because of civil rights movements, anti-colonial struggles, and demands of social justice during the colonial period to bring out the voice of marginalised groups.

• Participatory democracy has developed as a response to shifts in the condition of society and to provide transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability in the working of government.
• It represents the struggle of democratising the decision-making processes, empowering citizens, and providing equal distribution of power among different communities in the society.
• The participatory democracy is continuously evolving, changing itself according to the traditional challenges and to bring up the technological development in the nation to increase the engagement of citizens in the governance of nations and allows collective decision-making.

Why is Participatory Democracy Important?

1. Citizen Empowerment

It empowers the citizens by providing them a direct entry in the decision-making process. It is not merely representation as the citizens actively participate in making the policies. 

2. Increased Legitimacy

The policies are directly formed by the citizens for themselves which means the legitimacy of the government and policies is higher. Then the chances that the citizens of the nation will abide by it also increases.

3. Better Policy Outcomes

A variety of views and recommendations will result in a well-informed policy making. By using the knowledge of all the empowered citizens collectively, the government can develop more effective policies that fulfil the needs of all the citizens of the nation.

4. Accountability

The elected government is directly accountable to the people. Even though the decisions are made by the citizens of the nation, they also have the ability to keep check on government actions and hold officials accountable for their choices.

5. Innovation and Creativity

This kind of democracy promotes creativity and innovation by letting people take part in the decision-making process. It allows them to look for alternative solutions for complex issues.

6. Increased Transparency

This kind of democracy encourages accountability and openness as the public is able to participate in the decision-making process. It guarantees that choices are made in the public interest rather than just personal gain and it also helps in the prevention of corruption.

What are the ways to Increase People’s Participation?

Some of the essential ways to be used for increaing people’s participation include:

1. Education and Awareness Campaigns

The government conducts various workshops or seminars to educate citizens on how to participate in governance, along with that they participate in various activities like community events, voting or volunteering which also provides information on the importance of participation.

2. Accessible Platforms

To reach a wider audience try using social media platforms, which makes the participation of the citizens easier. It also ensures that participation is possible for those who are disabled.

3. Incentives and Recognitions

The citizens are offered incentives such as discounts, vouchers or recognition certificates to ensure their active participation. The contribution of active participants is also highlighted in the newspapers or social media.

4. Engagement and Communication

Try to have open communication channels for communication between decision-makers and the public for getting feedback on policies. They can get feedback through sources like surveys, town hall meetings or online forums. 

5. Empowerment and Ownership

The individuals can be empowered by involving them in planning and execution of these plans. It encourages a sense of ownership by allowing the members to take an initiative of their interest.

6. Collaboration and Partnership

The resources for maximum impact can be taken by collaborating with local organisations, businesses and community leaders to create an initiative. To engage the younger generation try collaborating with schools, universities and youth organisations.

7. Diverse Representation

It ensures that the participation opportunities are inclusive of the community’s diversity in terms of age, gender and ethnicity. They actively involve marginalised groups to ensure their opinion is heard.

8. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement

Time- to-time evaluation of initiatives helps in improving and adapting the strategies based on the empowered citizen’s feedback. It encourages learning and innovation to be effective over time.

Difference Between Representative Democracy and Participatory Democracy

Basically, there are two kinds of democracy: Representative Democracy and  Participatory Democracy. Direct democracy, also known as participatory democracy, has previously been covered. Now, we will talk about representative democracy.

Representative democracy is a form of democracy where representatives are elected by the citizens of the nation. Almost all modern democracy functions as some type of representative democracy. Some of the examples of representative democracy are: the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

There are a few things that set these two apart:

Basis	Participatory Democracy	Representative Democracy
Participation in Decision making	The citizens actively participate	The elected representatives take decisions
Direct Participation	Citizens take direct actions	Citizens vote for their representatives
Power in Whose hands	Citizens have power to make policy, community affair, and policy implementation	Powers are delegated to elected representatives
Specialisation	Can address to their problems and needs	In different functions
Accountability	Decisions are taken by citizens but politicians are responsible for implementation	Representatives are accountable
Suitability	Simple societies with small population	Complex Societies with large population
Knowledge and experience	In civic education	In specific field
Interest	Works for their own benefit	Interest can transfer to self interest

A participatory democracy involves the citizens directly in collective decision-making, whereas a representative democracy depends on decision-making on behalf of the voter. The decision between each style of democracy depends on the requirements and objectives of government, since each has advantages and disadvantages of its own.

Participatory Democracy: A New Feature of Political Participation

Participatory democracy has become a new feature of political participation because of several factors:

• Advancements in technology have improved accessibility and public participation. People may express their opinions, views, and criticisms on a range of topics from the comfort of their homes via online platforms, which solves challenges with location and transportation.
• Second, new types of government that enable direct public engagement in governance have emerged in response to voters’ discontent with traditional representative democracies.
• Because of their increased involvement in national governance, citizens increasingly want their government to be transparent and responsive. Participatory governments are able to provide these needs.

Moreover, the increasing amount of challenges in society like climate change, social injustice and economic inequality has resulted in the requirement for a reasonable decision. Participatory democracy allows the involvement of opinion, choices and voice of citizens in formation of policies, which results in more effective results.

Hence, participatory democracy is the new feature of political participation by involving technology, replying to dissatisfaction of citizens with conventional representative government, and also addressing the issues present in the modern society with an inclusive approach.

Conclusion

Participatory democracy gives citizens more power by letting them actively engage in decision-making. It offers inclusion, accountability, and openness in national governance. All things considered, a participatory system of government encourages more public involvement, democratic principles, and representation in the legislative branch.

FAQs – Participatory Democracy

What are some examples of participatory democracy in action?

Examples may include citizen assemblies, town hall meetings, and online platforms for public participation in the decision making process.

Is participatory democracy compatible with modern society?

Yes, participatory democracy can be easily adapted with modern society with the use of technology. For eg. Online platforms and digital voting.

Are there any successful examples of participatory democracy?

Yes, the examples may include Brazil’s Porto Alegre, citizen assemblies in countries like  Ireland and Canada.

How can I get involved in participatory democracy?

You can attend community meetings, join citizen assemblies or advisory boards and engage in online platforms.

How can participatory democracy solve issues like inequality and social justice?

The participatory democracy can provide a chance to express opinion to the marginalised groups.