'Professionalising' Participation: From Rhetoric to Practice |
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| Authors: | CLAIRE FREEMAN KAREN NAIRN JUDITH SLIGO |
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| Institution: | 1. Planning Programme: Geography Department , University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand E-mail: cf@geography.otago.ac.nz;2. Education Department , University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand E-mail: karen.nairn@stonebow.otago.ac.nz;3. Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Research Unit , University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand E-mail: jsligo@gandalf.otago.ac.nz |
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| Abstract: | Local government is increasingly seeking to encourage young people's participation in local government planning and decision-making. This paper examines the relationship between professionals in local government and the young people who are the focus of local government participatory initiatives. We argue that whilst the move towards developing participation initiatives is welcome, there is a need to adopt a process of critical reflection with regard to these initiatives. The case of one New Zealand city is examined where young people express their views on the effectiveness or otherwise of their council's participation initiatives. Our findings suggest that whilst well intentioned these initiatives have had limited success in facilitating meaningful participation and perhaps the participation process as currently practised is in urgent need of review. |
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