Constructing participation spaces

Participation is a central element in any community development programme. Successful participation is defined as a dynamic activity occurring in a ‘space’, and the question asked, ‘What are the appropriate dynamics in that space?’ The analogy is made with complex systems behaviour, and the conditions for adaptive, self-organizing systems to arise and exhibit creativity and persistence through time. Thus, ‘rules’ for successful participation spaces are derived. Three examples of participation spaces are examined for conformance to the derived rules, and the application to community participation programmes in general considered.