Gene Rowe and Lynn Frewer published an article entitled “A Typology of Public Engagement Mechanisms” in which they identify one of the major hindrances to public involvement is the convolution of many different terms regarding the process. They stated that the very existence of these different processes/techniques/instrument, which they dubbed mechanisms, imply uncertainty as to how to enact public involvement. They go through the arduous task of defining what public engagement is. Using the direction of information flow they distilled Public engagement down to three categories: public communication; public consultation; and public participation (see figure 1, Appendix A). In public communication and consultation, information only flows in
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She states that governments in particular take for granted a positive relationship between public engagement and trust. Public engagement, which focuses on two-way communication and not the one-way communication expressed in Rowe and Frewer’s publication, encompasses a shift in focus to relationships. These relationships are argued to enhance trust between parties experiencing disagreement. The main thrust of her argument is a potential problem lies in the commodification of trust which distills the process to the point of assuming that any engagement processes that allows for debate, questioning, and the voicing of concern will result in enhanced trust. She continues to argue, through the lens of her personal experience in public engagement, that the complexities of optimizing public engagement process elements and the underlying dimensions of trust let to misplaced expectations and it is unlikely that enduring trust is unlikely to result from engagement itself. It is prolonged engagements over many decisions that count in terms of raising and maintaining public trust. She concludes that official expectations that engagement will bestow public trust is something of a false hope. …show more content…
The participatory budgeting process was called Orcamento Participativo (OP). Being involved in the process empowered the participants to challenge the city services in their area. An example of how the participants challenged one OP initiative: Technical stall proposed traditional small family housing for a shantytown but the residents wanted more densely packed two story houses. A compromise was reached, allowing for high density housing while also respecting technical norms. It was estimated that 50,000 people participated in the OP in 2002.
Sure Start Initiative in Gateshead
Sure Start is a U.K. government support program targeting children, families, and communities through integration of relevant policies, including early education, child care, health and family support. Sure Start focuses on disadvantaged areas to improve the health and well-being of children under four and their families. This gives the children a firm foundation so they perform better when they start school. There is parent representation in all Sure Start initiatives, helping to set local targets within local delivery plans.
Caterham Barracks Community
She states that governments in particular take for granted a positive relationship between public engagement and trust. Public engagement, which focuses on two-way communication and not the one-way communication expressed in Rowe and Frewer’s publication, encompasses a shift in focus to relationships. These relationships are argued to enhance trust between parties experiencing disagreement. The main thrust of her argument is a potential problem lies in the commodification of trust which distills the process to the point of assuming that any engagement processes that allows for debate, questioning, and the voicing of concern will result in enhanced trust. She continues to argue, through the lens of her personal experience in public engagement, that the complexities of optimizing public engagement process elements and the underlying dimensions of trust let to misplaced expectations and it is unlikely that enduring trust is unlikely to result from engagement itself. It is prolonged engagements over many decisions that count in terms of raising and maintaining public trust. She concludes that official expectations that engagement will bestow public trust is something of a false hope. …show more content…
The participatory budgeting process was called Orcamento Participativo (OP). Being involved in the process empowered the participants to challenge the city services in their area. An example of how the participants challenged one OP initiative: Technical stall proposed traditional small family housing for a shantytown but the residents wanted more densely packed two story houses. A compromise was reached, allowing for high density housing while also respecting technical norms. It was estimated that 50,000 people participated in the OP in 2002.
Sure Start Initiative in Gateshead
Sure Start is a U.K. government support program targeting children, families, and communities through integration of relevant policies, including early education, child care, health and family support. Sure Start focuses on disadvantaged areas to improve the health and well-being of children under four and their families. This gives the children a firm foundation so they perform better when they start school. There is parent representation in all Sure Start initiatives, helping to set local targets within local delivery plans.
Caterham Barracks Community