Local economic development in theories of regional economies and rural studies

Abstract

What are the various types of public participation? Which are appropriate for a specific situation? If a given approach does not work, what next? Is there a logical progression from one kind of public involvement to another? This short article addresses these questions based on a broad range of projects in a variety of settings over the past 15 years. No one theory is behind this approach, but rather an eclectic mixture of what seems to work in field practice to prevent and resolve public controversy about major issues.