Promoting citizen participation in local governance: Case of the new rural construction Program in Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

In the direction of enhanced democracy, citizen participation in public administration is also increasingly playing an important role in the process of sustainable development in developing countries. This study explores understanding of participation, barriers to participation as well as how to increase citizen participation in local governance. This study shows evidence of the importance of citizen participation in local governance. In other words, citizen participation helps the government to have better governance practices as well as contribute to ensuring the transparency, responsibility and efficiency of local government. Especially in the rural development program in Vietnam, citizen participation will help the locality have more resources for the new rural development process. This study was conducted by a case study in Binh Chanh district in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The study used qualitative methods and the emerging approach, the stakeholder approach and theories of public participation in governance to understand this phenomenon. In-depth interviews and secondary data use as the main data source. Specifically, data from interviews with 16 local people (in 3 groups: citizens; elected representatives; local officials) show differences in perceptions of participation and barriers as well as ways to increase citizen participation in local governance. This research contributes to knowledge related to participatory governance by clarifying the concept of participation, identifying barriers to participation as well as examining how citizens overcome through these barriers, or in other words, to increase citizen participation in governance activities. The study has profound that participation in local governance or greater empowerment of citizens in final decisions can strengthen democracy as well as limit mistakes in governance.