Article: Mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation in public policy making Journal: International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies (IJHRCS) 2016 Vol.4 No.4 pp.295 - 312 Abstract: This study aimed to identify mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation in public policy making in Islamic Parliament of Iran. After conducting a thorough review of the research literature and extracting the Arnstein ladder of participation, the current level of citizens' participation in public policy making, first from the Islamic Consultative Assembly representatives' and next from citizens' viewpoint, was considered. The results showed the current level of public participation in public policy making. Then a few interviews with the university professors and the Islamic Parliament representatives were held to identify mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation in public policy making based on the current level of participation. The data were analysed using theme analysis and then ten mechanisms were extracted. Finally, the mechanisms were prioritised using TOPSIS technique in terms of effectiveness and efficiency and the final model was extracted. Based on findings, three most important solutions are respectively 'broadcasting participation educational programs', 'electronic participation' and 'forming factions as their roles are absolutely obvious'. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation in public policy making

Authors: Mojtaba Kiaei; Karamallah Daneshfard

Addresses: Faculty of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ' Faculty of Management and Economics, Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: This study aimed to identify mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation in public policy making in Islamic Parliament of Iran. After conducting a thorough review of the research literature and extracting the Arnstein ladder of participation, the current level of citizens' participation in public policy making, first from the Islamic Consultative Assembly representatives' and next from citizens' viewpoint, was considered. The results showed the current level of public participation in public policy making. Then a few interviews with the university professors and the Islamic Parliament representatives were held to identify mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation in public policy making based on the current level of participation. The data were analysed using theme analysis and then ten mechanisms were extracted. Finally, the mechanisms were prioritised using TOPSIS technique in terms of effectiveness and efficiency and the final model was extracted. Based on findings, three most important solutions are respectively 'broadcasting participation educational programs', 'electronic participation' and 'forming factions as their roles are absolutely obvious'.

Keywords: citizen participation; public policy making; public participation methods; Arnstein ladder of participation; e-participation; electronic participation; online participation; Islamic Parliament of Iran; TOPSIS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2016.081058

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2016 Vol.4 No.4, pp.295 - 312

Received: 20 Jul 2016
Accepted: 20 Jul 2016
Published online: 19 Dec 2016 *

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Title: Mechanisms to facilitate citizen participation in public policy making

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