Public participation in public policy making

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study assesses public participation in public policy making by way of a case study approach. The Regional Education Boards and the Regional Services Council form part of the case study evaluation of public participation in public policy making. In essence, a structural-functionalist analysis of the two cases is given. From this approach this study points out what theactivities of the two institutions are, what services they render and the policy measures with which they are engaged in. This isimperative because by way of an analysis, the extent to whichthe public is allowed to participate in the policy makingprocess, with reference to the two institutions, is determined.Before the assessment of the two cases a conceptual frameworkpertaining to public participation in public policy making is given. In this conceptual framework the different typologies, policy levels, participants and the modes of public participation in public policy making are highlighted.In earlier years public participation in public policy making was simply seen as being confined to voting turn-out. As the study of public policy making expanded the operational definition of public participation was broaden to include activities such as campaigning, handing petitions to members of parliament,attending political meetings, writing letters to communicationmedia, written representations submitted to a minister andprotest action. Thus, as the study of public policy making expanded it became clear that separate participation modes exist because the activities which emanates from the implementation of public policy differ systematically in the requirements it place on the citizens.What is significant of this thesis is that it proposed a nine-point criteriological model for effective participation inpublic policy making. Each criterium is analyzed in depth and it is indicated how important it is for effective publicparticipation in public policy making.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University