CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1         Background of the Study
          Over the past decades, man countries have gained experienced with referendums, citizens forums, citizens’ hurries, collaborative governance, participatory budgeting and other models in which citizen have a more direct say (Nwayawun 1999). Most people would view this as a positive development. Citizen’s participation is usually considered a valuable clement of democratic citizenship and democratic decision making. Also, theorists in democratic theory have argued that a stronger role for citizens and to minorities, it encourages civic skills and civic virtues, it leads to rational decisions based on public reasoning, and it increases the support for the outcome and the process (Koyle. et al 2008). Fundamental question is whether there is empirical evidence to uphold this argument.
          While many academic have written about involving citizens in policy making, empirical research about the actual effects of participation is scarce, empirical studies on, for example, empowered participatory governance (e.g Sung 2006), on deliberate democracy (e.g Fishkin 2009, Hendrinks et al, 2000), or an citizen governance (e,g Van Stakkan, 2003), are mostly case studies on a limited number of cases and focusing on one or two elements of democracy (Adekunle 2004). Hence it becomes parliament to assess the contribution of democracy innovation (Barth 2008). In order to evaluate the impact of citizen participation on democracy, there is need to develop a frame for studying the relation between citizen participation and democracy.
          This frame work contains element from different theories on citizen participation. Furthermore, this study includes empirical evidence about from 120 cases in different western countries (Ajayi 2002). The focuses is on these forms of citizens participation, which are related to policy problem and which unusually are prompted or facilitate by government (Koyle et al 2008).
          It should be noted that many political theories have also defended representative democracy as most realistic option for modern democracies. According to Schuman Feature in the competition for leadership. The role people merely to produce a government (Schumpeter 1976: 269). And a through the dramatic ideal of populist democracy is clearly present in Dahl’s A preface to democratic theory (1956) Dahl also argues that we need to be realistic. In other words, the best we can do is to try to realize a set of condition that would be necessary and sufficient for measuring democracy in the real world (Dahl 1956). In his view, election are essential to maximizing democracies in the real world conditions in the terms of institution and produce to maximize populist democracy, others are particularly social choice theorist, have shown that it is impossible to define the will of the majority (R: K 1982; Race and David, 1976; Ostrogarsk; 1964). As voters for party programmes containing opinions on all types of issues, elections rarely the pretences of the votes on specific issues.
          Some theorist who favour a narrow conception of political participation, emphasize the negative aspects of participation and regard massive participation even as being dangerous (Koyle et al 2008).
          Moreover, it shows that citizen involvement produces a number innovation. However, since these positive effects are perceptible only to those taking part, and the number of participants is often small, the benefits to individual democratic citizenship are for more conclusive then the benefit to democracy as whole (Ajayi 2002). Citizen participation is usually considered a valuable element of democratic citizenship decision making. Theorists claim that it has positive effects on the quality of democracy and, over recent decades, many countries have gained experience with referdums (Fadeiye, 2005).
          This democratic innovations can be grouped into four main types: deliberative forums, surveys, referendum and participatory policy making projects. Participation in these can have an influence on various elements of democracy, such as an decision making, inclusion, skill and virtues, deliberation and legitimacy. Deliberative forums and surveys are better at promoting the exchange of arguments and a willingness to stiff preference (Fishkin 2009).
          Citizen participation contribute to democratic development of knowledge, skills and virtues, no matter which form of citizen participation is examined about the process and the outcome, whereas those who do not participate are less supportive. In order to understand the contribution of different forms of citizen participation to democracy it is important to distinguished between a foams or outcome and decision making versus process and opinion formation. Citizens participating in referendums and participatory policy making have more of on impact on policy than do participate in deliberative surveys and deliberative forums. In addition; there is a tension. Deliberative forums and surveys are better at promoting the exchange of arguments, while referendums and participatory policy making projects are better at involving people. The number of people becoming involved represents a relatively small portion of the population, and particular groups are often under represented.