Participation, Power and Rural Community Governance in England and Wales

Project Staff

Principle Investigator

Woods, Michael

Co-Investigators

Dr Bill Edwards

Collaborators

Dr Graham Gardner

Non IGES Collaborators

Dr Jon Anderson (Cardiff University)
Dr Eldin Fahmy (Bristol University)

Brief Description

Funded by the ESRC Democracy and Participation Programme, 1 August 2000 - 31 August 2002

The project examined the nature, type and level of participation, the motivations and experiences of participants, and the implications of the pattern of participation for issues of democracy and accountability in rural governance. The research included a national survey of participation in elections to town, parish and community councils and detailed case study research in four locations (Beaminster, Kington, New Alresford, Winchcombe), exploring the specific factors which influence people's decisions to become involved in community politics and their experiences of participation. Two Post-Doctoral Research Assistants, Jon Anderson and Eldin Fahmy (to 1/9/01; Graham Gardner from 1/10/01), were employed on this project.

Details of project outputs and the final report can be found on the ESRC Society Today website.