Politiche pubbliche e nuove forme di partecipazione

In the field of public policies innovation seems today largely related to a number of «participatory» models and experiences. Yet on the one side the notion of participation is elusive. On the other side public policies always involve a plurality of actors, being thus participatory by definition. To understand the features of new participatory processes, therefore, a suitable interpretive equipment is mandatory. The article aims at contributing to this purpose. It first reflects on the concept of participation and how it can be fruitfully applied to public policies. Second, it outlines the background of new participatory processes and elaborates on the notion of publicness. Third, it develops a typology that may help analyse participation in the field of public policies. Some significant examples are discussed accordingly. Fourth, it deals with an issue the implications of which for participatory innovation are of major relevance: how the different approaches connect the policy actors and their public. The conclusion presents some possible evolutionary paths.