Citizen Participation Strategies

Abstract

Critical analysis of the general goal of citizen participation reveals basic conflicts between participatory democracy and professional expertise. Planners and other urban professionals have encountered many problems in attempting to encowage citizen participation in commzniiy decision-making. Some of the dilemmas can be resolved by recognizing and adopting a strategy of participation specifically designed to fit the vole and vesoiirces of the particular organization. Five types of strategies are identified: education-therapy, behavioral change, staff supplement, cooptation, and community power. © 1968 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.