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International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict |
Conflict Research Consortium, University of Colorado, USA |
Beginning in the 1960s, in the United States, a large number of laws were passed which required government agencies at all levels to provide extensive opportunities for public involvement in governmental decision making processes. Sometimes, however, the mechanisms provided for such public involvement are ineffective and largely meaningless. For example, agencies often hold public hearings in which they solicit public comments on a proposed action. If those comments are then completely ignored, and the agency makes a decision which is clearly opposite to the bulk of public opinion, the public is likely to withdraw its support for both the decision making process and the decision itself. Likewise, agencies often form citizen advisory committees which do not have decision making power, but which are formed to give decision makers advice about pending decisions. If that advice is routinely ignored, the advisory committee members are likely to quit and pursue more confrontational approaches for influencing the decision making process.
Copyright ©1998 Conflict Research Consortium -- Contact: crc@colorado.edu