Participatory Democracy and Its Limits

This review surveys the limits of participatory democracy and reconsiders its merits, with particular emphasis on the limited attention of citizens. I trace the development of participatory democracy within political science and democratic theory and suggest that participation has fallen out of its previously central role as a criterion of democratic quality. What remains is a set of functions and pitfalls, which I explore in a series of inquiries into participation: ( a ) in lottocracy and electoral democracy, ( b ) in its relationship to representation, and ( c ) in local land use planning. I conclude with thoughts for future research informed by the discussion.