Public participation in impact assessment: A social learning perspective

Abstract

This paper is a contribution to the development of normative criteria for evaluating models of the participation process. The concept of social learning is described and an effort to show how communities of people with both diverse and common interests can reach agreement on collective action to solve a shared problem. The authors have developed the idea of "cooperative discourse" as a method to achieve consensus. The authors utilize the case study of the siting of a municipal waste disposal facility in the eastern region of the Canton of Aargau in Switzerland, to demonstrate the applicability of "cooperative discourse". They argue that successful public participation must yield not only fair and competent decisions, but also uncover common needs and understandings that transcend egoistic aims, and contribute to the development of democracy.