`It's like Maintaining a Hedge'

Since participation at the local level is frequently urged as a solution to political disengagement (Stoker, 2006), it is important to acknowledge the structural obstacles to the ready imposition of the participatory project. This article argues that this focus upon popular democratic participation in urban affairs neglects the realities of political and social life, particularly for poorer areas of cities, and the structural constraints that greatly limit the opportunities for residents to engage actively within their community. From this perspective, the miracle is how much participation occurs rather than how little.