Arnstein

Question 1

Name the eight rungs of the ladder

Answer 1

1. Manipulation
2. Therapy
3. Informing
4. Consultation
5. Placation
6. Partnership
7. Delegation
8. Citizen power

Question 2

Manipulation

Answer 2

Citizens are “involved” in decision-making. However this is only to give them this impression. In reality they are educated or their support is engineered.
Ex. they are put in councils, but these councils are never heard or they don’t receive valuable information.

Question 3

Therapy

Answer 3

The “powerless” citizens are assumed to be mentally ill. Under the guise of “participation” therapy is conducted in order to cure them of their illness, instead of changing the racism and victimization that cause their status.

Question 4

Informing

Answer 4

Informing citizens of their rights, responsibilities and options. A good first step towards legitimate citizen participation, if implemented correctly. Too often it is only a one-way flow without the option to give feedback. Common tools are the news media, pamphlets, posters, etc.

Question 5

Consultation

Answer 5

Inviting citizens’ opinions. Should be combined with other modes of participation otherwise it’s questionable if citizen demands are taken seriously. Examples: attitude surveys, neighborhood meetings, etc.

Question 6

Placation

Answer 6

Granting some decision-making power to (a few) citizens by allowing/enabling them to participate on the side of the decision-maker. Ex. a few citizens are placed on a council or board, but only so few that they will remain a minority on this board.

Question 7

Partnership

Answer 7

Citizens and power holders agree to share decision making responsibilities through a negotiated structure. Once established, this can not be changed unilaterally. Most effective if there is a well-organized citizen-group that holds their leaders accountable and has some financial resources to offer compensation to their actors if needed.

Question 8

Delegated power

Answer 8

Citizens receive dominant decision-making power. Ex. citizens receive a majority of the seats on a certain board or council.

Question 9

Citizen power

Answer 9

Citizens/communities receive “full-control” over plans or programs, for example schools or their neighborhood. Obviously “full-control” has limitations, yet it means the citizens get a degree of power (or control) which guarantees them to govern a program or institution, to be in full charge of policy and managerial aspects, and be able to negotiate conditions under which others can intervene.