Modernizing Democracy: Innovations in Citizen Participation, Buss, Redburn & Guo (Eds.)

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For those of us who believe that a more active, savvy, and deliberative engagement between citizens and their government is essential to democratic accountability and good results, this volume is essential, and it should be an important reference point for years to come.” — Foreword by Xavier de Souza Briggs In every public management policy ‘public’ is always the focal point. The advancement of technology, coupled with the emergence of free access to vast volumes of information and opinion has transformed the ways and means of communication between citizens and their governments. Such developments change the rules of the game and the “public-ness” of public management too. But how? This is what this book points out to. The text analyzes the new innovative practices—from hands-on community learning and focus groups to high-tech information systems and decision support technologies. It informs the various roles that public administrators and leaders can play in fostering constructive, meaningful citizen involvement in shaping public decisions at all stages of the policy process. It will be useful for public administration professionals, scholars and students interested in citizen participation.Table of ContentsForeword1. MODERNIZING DEMOCRACY: AN OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUES2. EXPANDING AND DEEPENING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:A POLICY AGENDA3. COMMUNITY LEARNING: THE PROCESS AND STRUCTURE OF COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT4. COMMUNITY LEARNING IN PRACTICE: INSIGHTS FROM AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA5. NATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTIRES: OBSERVATIONS ON THEORYAND EXPERIENCE6. BROADENING CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROCESSES IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS: HUD’s CDBG PROGRAMS7. USING FOCUS GROUPS TO DEVELOP FAMILY POLICY:THE CASE OF GEORGIA8. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND GOVERNANCE9. LENSES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT FOR TECHNOLOGY-SUPPORTED CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT10. SIMULATION AND DECISION SUPPORT TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCING CITIZEN UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGEMENT11. THE INTERNET, POLITICS, AND DEMOCRACYAbout the Editors and Contributors