| Abstract: | Summary The paper is based on a comparative study of citizen participationin seven local agencies in the United States. Each of theseagencies were beneficiaries of Federal funds, as well as Federalencouragement and/or mandate to involve those affected by theproject in the policy making of the local effort. The papercompares the experiences of these seven agencies with regardto the issues of 'Representation', 'Participation', and 'Decision-MakingInfluence of Neighborhood Residents'. The following variableswere conceived of as particularly influential with regard tothe character of citizen participation practices; the size anddensity of the area's black population (and by inference ofall minority population) and the activities of Federal and localprofessional staff who behaved as advocates on behalf of theaffected citizenry The study concludes that the process of decision-making as theresult of citizen involvement in these seven communities, isindeed different. But it is less clear that there are differencesin the product of these decisions. As a result it is arguedthat the case for citizen participation needs to be made onnon-instrumental grounds–not that citizen participationhelps us achieve any particular goals faster (although it maydo that) but that participation represents, in western society,an unfulfilled, and valued goal, in and of itself In England, as in the United States, the central governmenthas become important force in creating opportunities for citizeninvolvement in local decision-making. The Skeffington Reportpromulgated by the Ministry Housing and Local Government hascreated new expectations with regard to citizen involvementin town planning in Britain. The new community development projectssponsored by the Home Office all seem to be interested in theissues of citizen involvement. And the 'Seebohm Report' talkssomewhat vaguely about citizen advisory bodies coupled withthe establishment of area social service offices.1 It seems likely that American experience with citizen participationdespite (or perhaps, because of) the fact that it is often aeuphemism for the involvement of black citizens in public decision-makingcan be usefulthose concerned with social administration in England.The observations |
