Participatory Democracy

?Zimmerman illustrates, discusses and evaluates the politics of citizen participation in public policy-making in the US. Although personally favoring increased popular involvement, he is fair and comprehensive in his account of the strengths and weaknesses of various methods historically available in American state and local government (the New England town meeting, the initiative, referendum and recall, and cummunity organizing). Rather then belabor theoretical arguments, Zimmerman considers the legal and political variables that facilitate or frustrate citizen involvement. Thus he provides an accessible resource, ably supported by an extensive and valuable bibliography. The book will be especially useful to upper-division undergraduates and graduate students requiring a well-outlined overview of the topic.?-Choice