Elite and participatory policymaking: Finding balance in a case of National Forest planning

In recent years many theorists and practitioners have called for more public involvement in policymaking and for greater citizen input in decisions. The move toward participatory and community-based approaches in policymaking can be seen as a backlash against more elitist technocratic, top-down models of decisionmaking. Using a case study of a successful National Forest planning exercise, this research investigated whether a participatory or elite model characterized the decisionmaking process. The findings indicated that neither an elite nor participatory model of decisionmaking dominated in the planning process; rather, both forms of decisionmaking contributed to important elements in formulating this successful National Forest plan.

Duke Scholars

Author Toddi Steelman Environmental Sciences and Policy