Fostering Neighborhood Democracy: Legitimacy and Accountability within Loosely Coupled Systems

Abstract

This article explores the range of organizations and participatory mechanisms that take on some aspect of the role of neighborhood-based governance (in some way speaking for or acting on behalf of their neighborhoods) in three cities. It describes the extent to which they perform similar or different functions and discusses the strengths and weaknesses presented by the system of relationships as they are currently structured. It also explores two key issues—legitimacy and accountability—in an attempt to distill lessons about the relative roles and effectiveness of these different participatory mechanisms and community organizations and the relationships among them. The article suggests ways that sponsors (including foundations and government) can more effectively engage with neighborhoods and promote neighborhood-based decision making and action and highlights some unanswered questions that might be pursued as part of a larger research agenda to inform the practical pursuit of participatory, community-building strategies.