While academics and policymakers are unified in calling for community participation in governance reforms in the developing world, the micro-level manifestation of participation is highly varied and unsatisfactory. Many participatory programs do not empower communities and foster democratic governance and many are also not sustained for long periods of time. Why is this so? This article advances a theory that program selection and sustainability are the result of rational choices by influential social groups. In order to understand participation, academics and policymakers should consider factors shaping influence profiles and the preferences of those enjoying influence over program selection and sustainability decisions in developing countries.
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