ABSTRACT
An intellectual trend for the introduction of participatory mechanisms in governance has become a widespread phenomenon among Polish non-profit activists and more progressive political representatives. The chapter focuses specifically on developments in urban politics. Various perspectives on public discourse frame participation as a means of assuring 'shared power' between the public and the authorities, but this term is insufficient to understand fully what participation entails. The pragmatic use of referendums in the urban political struggle has also been a frequent phenomenon in the last months and has sparked a debate about a potential reform of the mechanism. Critics of participatory democracy in Poland either discredit it because of fear or are dissatisfied with its practices in the current political sphere. In both cases, there is a problem with legitimacy and representativeness of participative processes, which, unresolved, is an effective weapon for the enemies of participation.
