Culture and Development of Public Participation
Parisa Feizmandian
Department of Training and Education, Zanjan
Abstract
The first thing that comes to mind is that the development without participation does not sense much. Today, the development scholars and experts consider participation as one of the most important pillars of development. For economic, cultural, social, and political development, therefore, people should involve in development process. From sociological point of view, the participation means a person's belonging to group, his/her share in that, and actively participating in group to conduct a social activity. Allan Biro states that: "Participation means getting a share in something, taking advantage of it, participating in a group, and therefore working with it. For this reason, the sociology distinguishes between participation as a state and participation as a practice and commitment “(Biro, 2001: 257). From systematic and functional viewpoint, the participation is considered as a "mechanism for survival, development, and excellence of social system. The lack of necessary structures for participation and its institutionalization may lead to extinction of social system and its political collapse" (Mardukhi, 1994: 171). Peter Oakley expresses three interpretations for participation: public participation as having a share in society, organization, and empowerment (Dehghan & Ghafari, 2005: 69). Salim Omar emphasizes on impact of value system of community on determination of its goal and states that "The process of participation, intervention, and control of people may lead to better life quality”. The participation may also be considered as conscious, active, free, and responsible movement which is essential for fulfillment of community affairs (Shadi Talab & Kamali, 2002: 27).
Keywords: Participation, Public Participation, Social Activity, Sociology, Responsibility.
