ABSTRACT
Participatory policy analysis (PPA) is a set of techniques, gaining popularity in the professional literature and practice, for expanding the range of actors involved in public decision making through deliberative dialogue. PPA arose from two sources: the new social movements of the 1960s and 1970s and recent critiques of "positivist" policy making. Scholars and advocates of more participatory approaches argue that PPA can help governmental bodies make better decisions, resolve intractable issues, empower and engage citizens, and promote justice and equity.
