“Shared Language” Or “Straitjacket”? The Hidden Costs of Legitimising Participation Through Standardised Frameworks

In this paper, we examine how a framework developed by the International Association for Public Participation is used to frame and legitimise the participatory practices of local governments in Ontario, Canada and Victoria, Australia. We find the association of IAP2 materials with appeals to “best practice” raises questions about the potential consequences of the use of standardised frameworks for participation. While these frameworks encourage a minimum standard for public participation, they may also stifle creative and contextually sensitive participatory planning practice.