Handbook of Participatory Democracy

This insightful Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary participatory practices across a wide range of political, social and institutional contexts. Expert scholars from across the globe examine the challenges facing participatory approaches when trying to renew democratic legitimacy, deepen civic engagement and reconfigure power relations in politics and society.

Chapters explore how politicians are experimenting with new methodologies and how citizens are reclaiming political agency through citizens' assemblies, participatory budgeting, digital platforms and workplace democracy. Combining empirical case studies with theoretical and critical perspectives, the Handbook assesses examples of participatory democracy across Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America, with particular focus on experiences from the Global South. Contributing authors analyse debates on deliberation, gender, ecology, science, participation professionals and post-colonialism. Adopting a systemic perspective, the Handbook investigates the tensions, promises and limitations of participatory approaches, while also highlighting the potential for deliberative democracy to create new opportunities for improving elections.

The Handbook of Participatory Democracy is a crucial resource for scholars and students of political science, public policy and governance, sociology and postcolonial studies. Its insights into emerging debates and international experiences makes this prime reading for politicians, civil servants, journalists and activists interested in the operation of democracy.