Our Educational Model of Participation Examined

Abstract

AbstractConcepts of “participatory democracy” in the decision-making process as practiced in current Economic Opportunity and Model Cities programs are examined. Not in terms of the “rightness or goodness” of the concepts, but rather in terms of the effect participation has on making implementable decisions within our social milieu.Participation is viewed as a critically necessary aspect in the generation and control of social power. As such, individual participation tends to be induced rather than volunteered; of a heterogeneous base more often than of a homogenous base; highly specialized and limited in both content and timing of involvement in the total decision-making process.The consequences of adding units of participation to the decision-making process are examined in terms of “participation returns model.” Using this Returns Model, the author asserts that educators and community development workers tend to over-invest participation inputs for effective and efficient decision implementation. He cal...