Participation Theory Literature Review Summary Part of 2004 Report "Designing Social Capital Sensitive Participation Methodologies"

The evolution of participation is seemingly built on trial and error with participation enjoying questionable success and at times practice represented perversion. Participation theory represents a move from the global, aspatial and top-down strategies that dominated early development initiatives to more locally sensitive methodologies. Although there are differing opinions in the literature as to the origins of participation theory there is consensus that it stems from political sciences and development theory. The importance of participation grew out of the recognition that the worldsโ€™ poor have actually suffered as a result of development, and that everyone needs to be involved in development decisions, implementation and benefits.

There is no commonly agreed definition of participation this vagueness and lack of conceptualisation of the concepts of participation and empowerment cause confusion over expectations and over the evaluation of outcomes of the participatory development process. It is agreed that participation is about decision making.

The terms usefulness has been significantly undermined by the popularity or pervasiveness of the term. As a result the term has gained almost honorific meaning and used without recognition of its meaning. In this way application of the concept is often misused and becomes instrumental, rather than transformative. In an attempt to categorise the various extents of participation, a number of typologies have been created to explain the continuum.

Although having many important benefits, participation also has a number of limitations, most importantly being that methodologies are context specific. Skeptics also argue that participation places unrealistic demands on people, with more pressing demands on their time.

Citing this article

This report was prepared for Social Capital Research. You should reference this work as:

Claridge, T., 2004. Designing social capital sensitive participation methodologies. Report, Social Capital Research, Brisbane, Australia.

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3 thoughts on “Participation Theory Literature Review Summary Part of 2004 Report "Designing Social Capital Sensitive Participation Methodologies"”

  1. Avatar
    Ifeoma Dan-Ogosi

    I am conflicted about using participation as a concept in my logic model for my PhD thesis. Can you link me to other resources that definitely cite participation as a theoretical concept, please?

    1. Avatar
      ojwang lam afric walatum

      participation is my main concern because ti shows out that some body is learning or doing something by himself or herself. so please link me to other resources.
      Lam Afric

  2. Avatar

    I’m looking for Participation theory without success. Can any one help? Not the typologies of participation

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