'Participation: Building Perspectives' PRIA December,1997

Abstract

Literature review has provided interesting insights to participation as seen by a number of researchers, academicians and practitioners. To find an ideal definition is difficult, as it is historically related with different ideologies, thus acquiring different meanings. While some view participation as a result of a bottom up empowering process, others see it more in a project context. Peter Oakely has reviewed work done on this subject by a number of academicians(i.e. Hague et al, 1977, Pearse and Stiefel, 1979, Lele, 1975, Upoff, 1985). On the basis of that he has categorised the different definitions of researchers (Peter and Stiefel, 1979, Cohen and Uphoff, 1977, Paul, 1987) on participation into following broad interpretations(18,20): Participation as contribution: Here participation implies voluntary or other form of contributions by rural people to predetermined programmes and projects in return for some perceived expected benefits. This reflects the project or programme nature of participation (passive participation), not linked to changing fundamental problems. No institutionalised base of participation exists in this definition.