participatory democracy

USAGE SUMMARY

'participatory democracy' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a system of government in which power is held by the people, typically through elected representatives or citizen-led initiatives. For example, "The country practices a participatory democracy, in which its citizens have a direct say in their government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Participatory democracy?

The Guardian

Isn't this also participatory democracy?

The Guardian

Call it the limits of participatory democracy.

The New York Times

An informed, participatory democracy demands nothing less.

The New York Times

The basis for V4I is what they call participatory democracy.

The Guardian

She proved internet-savvy, and promised a new "participatory democracy".

The Economist

They believe in the spontaneous uprising of participatory democracy.

The New York Times

The answer lies with participatory democracy in party processes.

The Guardian - Opinion

Clearly, public hearings are an important element of participatory democracy.

The Guardian - Business

What does "participatory democracy" mean in a continent?

The New York Times

These are not circumstances conducive to participatory democracy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "participatory democracy", provide specific examples of how citizen involvement is facilitated, such as town hall meetings, online forums, or citizen advisory boards.

Common error

Avoid using "participatory democracy" as a blanket term for any democratic system. Emphasize the active and direct role of citizens in decision-making, rather than solely relying on elected representatives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "participatory democracy" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a specific model of democracy characterized by active citizen involvement beyond traditional voting, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "participatory democracy" refers to a democratic system where citizens actively engage in decision-making, moving beyond simply voting. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, followed by science and formal business contexts. While semantically related phrases like "engagement democracy" and "inclusive democracy" offer nuanced perspectives, it's crucial to avoid conflating "participatory democracy" with mere representation. Effective usage involves illustrating concrete methods of citizen engagement. As indicated by Ludwig, understanding the distinctions between "participatory democracy" and related concepts ensures precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

engagement democracy

Emphasizes citizen engagement as a core component.

inclusive democracy

Focuses on the inclusiveness and representation of diverse voices in the democratic process.

collaborative democracy

Highlights the collaborative nature of decision-making.

grassroots democracy

Stresses the bottom-up, community-driven aspect of democratic participation.

direct democracy

Refers to systems where citizens directly vote on policies, contrasting with representative models.

deliberative democracy

Emphasizes reasoned discussion and debate in the decision-making process.

empowered citizenry

Highlights the power and agency of citizens within a democratic system.

citizen-led governance

Focuses on governance systems driven by citizen initiatives and participation.

bottom-up governance

Stresses that governance is directed from the bottom up.

community-based decision-making

Emphasizes local control and community involvement in decisions.

FAQs

How to use "participatory democracy" in a sentence?

"Participatory democracy" emphasizes the active involvement of citizens in shaping policies and decisions, not just through voting, but through direct engagement and deliberation.

What are some alternatives to "participatory democracy"?

Alternatives include "engagement democracy", "inclusive democracy", or "collaborative democracy", depending on the specific aspect you wish to emphasize.

What's the difference between "participatory democracy" and "direct democracy"?

"Participatory democracy" encompasses a range of citizen engagement methods, while "direct democracy" specifically refers to systems where citizens vote directly on laws and policies.

Why is "participatory democracy" important?

A "participatory democracy" fosters greater accountability, responsiveness, and legitimacy in governance by empowering citizens to shape the decisions that affect their lives.