Obstacles and solutions on the ladder of citizen participation: a systematic review |
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Authors: | Mario Ianniello Silvia Iacuzzi Paolo Fedele |
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Affiliation: | Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Udine, Udine, Italy |
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Abstract: | This article presents a systematic review of the English-language empirical literature about citizen participation to identify the obstacles to its implementation and the most successful ways to address them. Three sets of variables seem to impact effectiveness: contextual factors, including information asymmetries and public officials’ attitude; organizational arrangements, including community representation criteria and process design; and process management patterns, including group dynamics and collaboration quality. Two recommendations stem from our analysis: internalize decisions in organizational procedures, and establish ongoing interactions between government bodies and their stakeholders. We conclude that half-hearted engagement is unlikely to lead to successful citizen participation. |
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Keywords: | Citizen participation stakeholder inclusion interactive decision-making deliberative engagement interactive governance |
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