Public Participation for 21st Century Democracy

A comprehensive text on the theory and practice of public participation

Written by two leaders in the field, Public Participation for 21^st Century Democracy explores the theory and practice of public participation in decision-making and problem-solving. It examines how public participation developed over time to include myriad thick, thin, and conventional opportunities, occurring in both face-to-face meetings and online settings. The book explores the use of participation in various arenas, including education, health, land use, and state and federal government. It offers a practical framework for thinking about how to engage citizens effectively, and clear explanations of participation scenarios, tactics, and designs. Finally, the book provides a sensible approach for reshaping our participation infrastructure to meet the needs of public officials and citizens.

The book is filled with illustrative examples of innovative participatory activities, and numerous sources for more information. This important text puts the spotlight on the need for long-term, cross-sector, participation planning, and provides guidance for leaders, citizens, activists, and others who are determined to improve the ways that participation and democracy function. Public Participation for 21^st Century Democracy:

• Helps students and practitioners understand the history, theory, and practice  of public participation
• Contains a wealth of case studies that explore the application of public participation in different settings
• Covers vital issues such as education, health, land use, and state and federal government
• Has accompanying instructor resources, such as PowerPoint slides, discussion questions, sample assignments, case studies and research from , and classroom activities. 

TINA NABATCHI is an associate professor of public administration and international affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. The author of several book chapters, monographs, research reports, and white papers, her research focuses on citizen participation, collaborative governance, and conflict resolution.

MATT LEIGHNINGER is the executive director of the Deliberative Democracy Consortium, an alliance of organizations and leading scholars in the field of deliberation and public participation. With twenty years in the field, he has worked with public engagement efforts in over 100 communities, forty states, and four Canadian provinces.

Activate the Democratic, Problem-Solving Potential of Citizens Public Participation for 21st Century Democracy takes a detailed look at the fascinating past, frustrating present, and promising future of public participation. Covering both theory and practice, the book describes how engagement happens--and how it could happen more effectively--in the context of education, health, land use, and state and federal policymaking. The discussion strips away the false assumptions about citizenship and explores what people really want out of public life: problem solving, civility, and community. The book describes the many tools for productive participation, from the proven meeting formats to the latest apps, and discusses ways to embed them in how governance works. Track the evolution of public participation in the U.S. Discover how participation is crucial to our health, schools, and economy Learn how to match participation tactics to specific scenarios Understand the need for stronger participation infrastructure, and how to build it Public Participation for 21st Century Democracy is a unique and important resource for anyone interested in creating smarter, fairer, stronger forms of democracy.

Activate the Democratic, Problem-Solving Potential of Citizens Public Participation for 21st Century Democracy takes a detailed look at the fascinating past, frustrating present, and promising future of public participation. Covering both theory and practice, the book describes how engagement happens and how it could happen more effectively in the context of education, health, land use, and state and federal policymaking. The discussion strips away the false assumptions about citizenship and explores what people really want out of public life: problem solving, civility, and community. The book describes the many tools for productive participation, from the proven meeting formats to the latest apps, and discusses ways to embed them in how governance works. Track the evolution of public participation in the U.S. Discover how participation is crucial to our health, schools, and economy Learn how to match participation tactics to specific scenarios Understand the need for stronger participation infrastructure, and how to build it Public Participation for 21st Century Democracy is a unique and important resource for anyone interested in creating smarter, fairer, stronger forms of democracy.

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