The IAFOR Journal of Politics, Economics and Law
Volume II – Issue – I
Dublin Core
Title
The IAFOR Journal of Politics, Economics and Law
Volume II – Issue – I
Volume II – Issue – I
Subject
The IAFOR Journal of Politics, Economics and Law
Volume II – Issue – I
Volume II – Issue – I
Description
Research into public participation in local decision-making has increased over the past forty
years, reflecting increased interest in the subject from academic, policy and practitioner
perspectives. The same applies to community development, a values-based profession
promoting a transformational agenda.
During the New Labour government’s period in office (1997-2010), public participation
featured centrally in several policies, reflecting their adherence to communitarian theory and
Third Way politics. Additionally, the language of community development (promoting
community empowerment and social justice) featured in these policies. Guidance for Local
Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) – central to New Labour’s local government reforms – required
them to facilitate public participation in decision-making, and used the language and values of
community development.
This paper reports on research into LSPs’ public participation practice. Applying a
constructivist methodology, the research applied an evaluative framework reflecting the
community development values in all 22 LSPs in the Yorkshire & Humber region. Data was
collected through documentary review and interviews with LSP officials in each participating
LSP. Case study research was conducted in one LSP, concentrating on two communities,
generating deeper understanding of the process of facilitating public participation in different
circumstances.
Notions of power feature centrally in the analysis, and the research concludes that local
authorities struggle to relinquish power to communities in any meaningful way, even within
the context of government guidance requiring this process to be implemented. These findings
are extrapolated to present a brief critique of the present UK government’s stated commitment
to de-centralising power to communities in various policy areas.
years, reflecting increased interest in the subject from academic, policy and practitioner
perspectives. The same applies to community development, a values-based profession
promoting a transformational agenda.
During the New Labour government’s period in office (1997-2010), public participation
featured centrally in several policies, reflecting their adherence to communitarian theory and
Third Way politics. Additionally, the language of community development (promoting
community empowerment and social justice) featured in these policies. Guidance for Local
Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) – central to New Labour’s local government reforms – required
them to facilitate public participation in decision-making, and used the language and values of
community development.
This paper reports on research into LSPs’ public participation practice. Applying a
constructivist methodology, the research applied an evaluative framework reflecting the
community development values in all 22 LSPs in the Yorkshire & Humber region. Data was
collected through documentary review and interviews with LSP officials in each participating
LSP. Case study research was conducted in one LSP, concentrating on two communities,
generating deeper understanding of the process of facilitating public participation in different
circumstances.
Notions of power feature centrally in the analysis, and the research concludes that local
authorities struggle to relinquish power to communities in any meaningful way, even within
the context of government guidance requiring this process to be implemented. These findings
are extrapolated to present a brief critique of the present UK government’s stated commitment
to de-centralising power to communities in various policy areas.
Creator
Craig Mark
Files
Collection
Citation
Craig Mark, “The IAFOR Journal of Politics, Economics and Law
Volume II – Issue – I ,” Portal Ebook UNTAG SURABAYA, accessed May 3, 2024, https://ebook.untag-sby.ac.id/items/show/645.