It seems that the 1960s was an
era of much change within existing social structures, demographics and
political power, and that seems to be the underlying concept between much of
the reform and our recent class discussions; the balance of power. Indeed the
even distribution of power has its merits, it allows us to have our say,
control our lives and have our freedom, but should this ideology extend to the
realms of planning decisions?
Extending on the theories of Advocacy
and Pluralism in planning, ‘A ladder of citizen participation’ by Sherry
Arnstein examines the role of the community and their level of engagement in
the planning process. This is achieved through the simplified ‘eight rungs’ of
participation ranging from nonparticipation, to tokenism and finally citizen
control. Citizen participation can help provide information, knowledge and
skills from various backgrounds, can improve the desired outcomes, create a
sense of community ownership on the outcomes and generate agreement over
solutions. With such a simple utopian notion in mind, it is interesting to ask
where Australia sits on such a ladder. Even in such a highly developed country,
I believe the answer is still determined by who you are.
Unfortunately, poor and
disadvantaged citizens would undoubtedly have their voices drowned out by the
affluent and politically influential in traditional
styles of community consultation. However the internet and social media have acted
as catalysts, broadening participation rates and increasingly have a sizeable influence
in governing decisions. However, here lies the question, does the broader
community have the imagination, experience or insight required to plan the
society around them? This question is purely rhetorical as every community is
different, but it is a question that slips in to the minds of many. With the
move towards citizen control, planners should decide if they prefer to dismiss
the contribution from the community or whether they intend to work with
communities in helping them realise their ideas. It would seem to me that the
role of the planner is still evolving, a reflection of the progression of
modern society.
I would definitely agree that the role of the planner is still evolving! The continuous modernisation of todays world is bringing new and exciting ideas. As I said in my blog and Will kindly pointed out in class... isn't it only the people that know what they truly want and desire? They may not have qualifications but they may have the passion and drive for their communities.
ReplyDeleteTitled “Ladder of Citizen Participation“, Sherry Arnstein presented a deliberately provocative take on the relationship between community and government by using a ladder as a metaphor for increasing access to decision-making power.
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