CERTAIN THEORETICAL AND LEGAL ASPECTS OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the key principles of citizens’ participation in the management of public affairs. The connection between the right to participate in public administration and democracy is revealed. It is established that democracy obliges the state to create conditions for citizens to exercise their right to participate in all stages of socially significant decisions. The concept of «participatory democracy», which arose as a result of expanding the possibilities of a democratic state and legal regime and the transition to a human-centric concept of governance, is analyzed. It has been proven that in the phrase «participatory democracy» participation is understood much more broadly today than before. Thus, if the ancient Greek thinkers spoke only of political participation, then with the development of statehood and changing priorities in the activities of public institutions, it is already a question of public participation. The author identifies the basic principles of citizen participation in public administration, in particular: 1) the presence of a specific goal; 2) creating conditions for feedback; 3) alternative; 4) creating conditions for active public participation at the stage of preparation of management decisions; 5) involvement of the maximum number of participants in the discussion and adoption of the relevant management decision; 6) providing adequate open and complete information on public interaction; 7) openness and controllability of the process of public participation, the ability to formulate only realistic goals; 8) the use of quality methodological framework for the organization of the process and control over its results. The article examines the content of acts of international law on public participation in public administration, as well as the recommendations of the Council of Europe on ensuring the state’s proper level of citizens’ participation in public administration. The key principles of citizens’ participation in public administration are presented.

Keywords

• public participation
• public administration
• public affairs management
• electronic participation
• good governance