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 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. Nevertheless, PPA has been subject to intense scrutiny and criticism, particularly in the international development community. Postpositivist critiques of policy making have not always resulted in convincing postpositivist methods or analytical instruments, and concerns about the wide uptake of PPA have taken several forms. These include lack of attention to social structure, implication in devolution and neoliberalism, and subjugation disguised as empowerment. Finally, this entry discusses three examples of PPA in action. Examples of PPA are now fairly common in the professional literature, so these examples are neither exhaustive nor representative but do serve as an indicator of the breadth of current practice.
