Abstract
The speech, embedded in an exploratory workshop on participatory democracy in Europe and India, focused on the following research questions: What are the rationales for developing participatory policies in Europe (EU and European states)? What are the major forms/channels of participatory democracy in Europe? Who are the most critical actors in the development of participatory schemes/instruments? Which schemes/instruments are institutionalised? Are they also embedded, in that the society makes use of them in a collaborative relationship with the institutions? Which policy sectors are most amenable to participatory instruments?