Introduction

This introductory chapter recounts how a 1992 Swiss Alps workshop sparked the first edition of Fairness and Competence in Citizen Participation, which evaluated and compared major participatory models for environmental decision-making. After 30 years, the editors now present a thoroughly revised volume in response to the proliferation of new and adapted formats, such as mini-publics and decision theaters. The chapter explains how eight participation formats—each assessed by an advocate and a critic—are organized using updated evaluative criteria and recent literature on theory and practice of public participation. Emphasizing collaborative, reflective, and inclusive governance styles, it argues for the critical importance of deliberative public participation in shaping legitimate, effective environmental policies.