Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book starts by considering some of the key ideas behind the concept of 'governance'. It suggests that states have become interested in public participation for a variety of reasons, including the 'fiscal crisis of the state' and for reasons of legitimacy. The book presents some of the arguments concerning the relationship between initiatives in public participation and democracy. It also presents an analysis of efforts by the led local council in a municipality in Mexico City, Tlalpan, to increase citizen participation, through the implementation of provisions of the Citizen Participation Law. The book focuses on the moves towards the decentralization of services and activities in certain left-Labour local councils in Britain in the 1980s. It argues that the commitments to extending democracy and increasing public participation were overcome by a 'managerialist agenda' which gained supremacy.