Why did governments develop new ways for citizens to participate in decision making during the 1960s?

During the 1960s, governments began developing new methods for citizen participation primarily in response to a growing perception that existing administrative systems were failing to address the needs of their populations, particularly those of the poor and minority groups.1

This shift was driven by several key factors:

• Responsiveness to Social Needs: There was a widespread feeling that governments were not adequately responding to the concerns of marginalized communities. This sentiment was closely linked to the broader civil rights movement, which utilized nonviolent demonstrations and direct action to highlight systemic inequalities and demand greater inclusion in the political process.123
• Administrative Reform: Within the field of public administration, there was a move away from rigid, hierarchical structures toward approaches that emphasized human relations and organizational development. These frameworks encouraged broader participation in decision making to better align organizational goals with the needs of the people they served.1
• Structural Experiments: To facilitate this, governments initiated various experiments that involved delegating decision-making authority from central to local offices and sharing power directly with citizen groups at the local level.1