The Routledge Dictionary of Politics, Third Edition
Participatory democracy is really an alternative label for direct democracy, although it does also involve a slight element of what is normally regarded as an opposite of the latter, that is representative democracy. The point is that participation need not necessarily carry the implication of ultimate decision-making power.
Thus one can argue for a much greater degree of citizen participation in a political system while accepting that the ultimate decision-making and law-creating functions must be handled by a small body of elected representatives. Widespread use of public enquiries, advisory referendums, consultative bodies and similar devices can increase the degree to which ordinary people participate in the forming of policy. (See also industrial democracy.)
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