Citizenship

Emancipation

Deliberative democracy

Politics

Political science

Democracy

Citizen journalism

Deliberation

Sociology

Public administration

Deleted Journal

THEORIZING PARTICIPATION: FROM TYRANNY TO EMANCIPATION Sharon Penderis, Senior Lecturer, African Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, University of the Western Cape, South Africa Abstract Throughout the world, participation has become a buzz-word in the contemporary development lexicon, used synonymously with deliberative democracy, good governance and citizenship, with much optimism and fervor. New forms of participatory institutions and interactive spaces are emerging, as sites within which state and society can interact and engage in mutually reinforcing ways to address development challenges at the local level. The primary raison d'etre for the practice of participation and public deliberation being heralded as indispensible to democratic nations is its role in legitimizing government actions and strengthening the political system. Extant discourse indicates mounting disillusionment with the nature and outcome of local state-society synergies. Numerous scholars are of the view that the very notion of participation is ambiguous and value-laden, surrounded by much conceptual confusion and inadequate grounding in development theory. Both practitioners and theorists are increasingly highlighting its marginalizing and divisive powers through its mechanistic use as a tool to validate pre-conceived policy initiatives. Despite this critique, however, the practice and acceptance of participatory approaches as the definitive solution for the challenges facing developing countries continues unabated. Within the bounds of this framework, this paper seeks firstly to conceptualize and locate participation within a more radical and politicized participatory discourse. Thereafter, the focus will shift to an analysis of participation as a spatial practice and an investigation into the dynamics of power relations which infuse spaces of public engagement. The final section will explore the different levels of intensity and dimensions of participation in order to develop a framework that facilitates reflection of current institutionalized practices and the need to reshape spaces of interaction to enable empowered and meaningful participation.

Theorizing Participation: From Tyranny to Emancipation