Legitimate public participation: A Q methodology on the views of politicians

Governments seem to be trapped in a legitimacy paradox. While politicians and public managers, especially on the local level, increasingly initiate participation enhance of decisions, actual impact citizens' input political decision-making is often low, contributing loss legitimacy. To solve this paradox, article unravels views Netherlands democratic via Q-methodology. Despite large PA-scholarship participation, empirical research into how view value remains scarce. The findings reveal either prefer that conditioned by government or empowers citizens speak up. Taking account designing processes improves chance will do justice its outcomes hence contributes not symbolical but meaningfully informs decision-making.