Participatory democratization reconceived

摘要

Since the 1970s participatory democracy has been a catchword for genuine, popular or progressive democratization. Since then the general climate has changed in several respects. How is participatory democracy now being conceived and reconceived? To contextualize this Question I first consider ongoing discussions of democracy and democratization generally, and Then zero in on participatory democracy and its various current meanings. Participatory democ- racy is now usually thought of, rather than as wholesale system change, in partial reforms, Particularly decentralization and polities of empowerment. I conclude by offering dark and Light scenarios of the future significance of participatory democratization.