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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
President Obama, Public Participation, And An Agenda For Research And Experimentation, Thomas Bryer
President Obama, Public Participation, And An Agenda For Research And Experimentation, Thomas Bryer
Thomas A Bryer
The Obama Administration has offered citizens and onlookers from other nations a host of innovative efforts to make the United States federal government more open, participatory, and collaborative. In this issue of the International Journal of Public Participation, a set of invited authors consider the varying levels of success of this work demonstrated thus far and raise important research and practical questions for the Administration and others who might learn from the Administration’s experiences. In this introduction, some of these questions are reviewed and notable practices are summarized. Ultimately, it is concluded that, though the Administration is still young, there …
Public Engagement In The Obama Administration: Building A Democracy Bubble?, Thomas Bryer
Public Engagement In The Obama Administration: Building A Democracy Bubble?, Thomas Bryer
Thomas A Bryer
Following the Bush Administration, the Obama team enhanced access for citizens to participatory venues. Extending and enhancing access gives citizens opportunity to develop their citizenship skills, potentially influence policy, and potentially become better connected to community life. The Administration can be applauded for participatory innovations, but the Administration needs to proceed strategically to ensure the innovations do not produce more harm than good and to ensure that the real change they are producing is not whisked away in the next Administration as rapidly as an information cascade infects the citizenry. This article develops the idea of a democracy bubble as …
Living Democracy In Theory And Practice: Getting Dirty In A Local Government Incorporation Process, Thomas Bryer
Living Democracy In Theory And Practice: Getting Dirty In A Local Government Incorporation Process, Thomas Bryer
Thomas A Bryer
Poinciana, Florida is a growing community in Central Florida. The master homeowners association contracted for an incorporation feasibility study to determine whether Poinciana could survive as a city. This article describes the public participation process designed and implemented as part of the feasibility study and articulates the goals, principles, and venues of the design, the challenges or barriers confronted, and suggestions for revisions to statutory guidelines for incorporation are described with the purpose of moving towards the institutionalization of public participation as a cultural norm.