Participation is Not Enough: An Argument for Emancipation as a Foundation of Participatory Theorising

Contemporary participatory theory remains in a problematic
disconnect from political practice. This disconnect is often a
source of criticism and leads to accusations of the idealistic nature
of participatory theory. In this article, I argue that the reasons for
this disconnect lie in the theoretical tools used by participatory
theorists. While the theory relies on an assumption of the
educational effects of political participation and the possibility of
societal transformation, the core concepts of the theory do not
enable the identification of potential obstacles for such
transformation. Consequently, this article argues for incorporating
a previously overlooked concept and an ideal of political
emancipation into the core of participatory theorising. By
incorporating political emancipation into its vocabulary,
participatory theory can successfully address the disconnect from
political practice and provide guidance in establishing improved
political arrangements.