Participation, Empowerment and Sustainability: (How) Do the Links Work?

Michal Lyons, Carin Smuts and Anthea Stephens
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Michal Lyons: Faculty of the Built Environment, South Bank University, 202 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2JZ, UK, lyonsm@sbu.ac.uk
Carin Smuts: CS Studio Architects, 42 Vredehoek Avenue, Cape Town 8001, South Africa. csstudio@mweb.co.za
Anthea Stephens: Faculty of the Built Environment, South Bank University, 202 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2JZ, UK, anthea.stephens@xsinet.co.za

Urban Studies, 2001, vol. 38, issue 8, 1233-1251

Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between participation, empowerment and sustainability. Using the multisectoral and multicontextual experience of participation amassed in South Africa, both pre- and post- apartheid , we address two questions: does participation lead to empowerment; and does empowerment, in turn, lead to sustainability? Further, what external factors mediate and influence that relationship? Analysis shows that a relationship does exist and is contingent on a number of contextual factors, crucial to its success. Findings are discussed in terms of the international literature on community participation and local democracy, and policy implications are identified.

Date: 2001
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:38:y:2001:i:8:p:1233-1251

DOI: 10.1080/00420980125039

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