PROVING BETTER INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CONTENTIOUS DECISIONS

摘要

It is widely recognised today that involving stakeholders and members of the public in decision-making has a number of significant benefits, such as increasing the legitimacy of decisions and incorporating lay values and perspectives. This has focussed attention on how to allow for meaningful participation by stakeholders. Much research has been done to develop and evaluate different methods for public participation. Looking beyond the specific techniques employed, to questions such as relations of power between stakeholders, it becomes clear that the provision of information, both on the nature of the process itself and on the issues under consideration, is at the heart of all participation. Using information to increase openness and effective input from a diversity of stakeholders is especially challenging when the issues are technically complex and contentious. Risk communication research has demonstrated that perceived transparency and objectivity in the provision of information are factors that contribute to public trust in experts and institutions. Progress has been made in understanding what procedures are appropriate for giving information at different stages in the decision-making process.