New Directions

Abstract

Understanding how and why participation works obviously requires informative theory. The lack of such a theoretical framework encumbers and diminishes, in my estimation, participation’s positive impact on the critical collective action social issues of our day. This conclusion also indicates that these issues are larger and more multidimensional than normally discussed in international development studies. Considering this situation, I recalled a statement that had been made some time ago at a Conference of Participation Practitioners in Kokrabite, Ghana.¹ The comment was made by a shy colleague from Nigeria; it underscored the similarities of participation approaches that we all had commented on throughout the conference.