Is participatory local policy development possible? the case of Çanakkale

Participation became a sort of password for a more democratic, more egalitarian and freer society. However, on its own, participation and a participatory democracy are no guarantee for a more democratic and just society. On the other hand, debate on participatory democracy is nothing new. Its importance has been stressed by different actors for a long time. International organizations have issued declarations based on the principle of participatory democracy. Rather than conducting a theoretical debate concerning participatory democracy or delving into the different uses to which the concept is put by different actors, the present study aims to discuss a concrete experience of participatory practice in Çanakkale, Turkey. Focusing on the practice of developing participatory local cultural policy between 2008 and 2011 in Çanakkale, this study investigate the participation of citizens in the decision-making process and the methods and practices adopted in order to increase the level of participation and describe the problems and difficulties encountered on the field, so as to assess the quality of the participation that was achieved. Relying on observations in the field, this paper will strive to elucidate the meaning and reflect on the practice of participation in decision-making, given the need for analyses of the experiences of different localities and practices for further recommendations towards encouraging a radical change in the system.