The Global Discourse on “Participation” and its Emergence in Biodiversity Protection

This paper inquires into the nature of “participation” as a cross-section set of principles now applied to many issues of global concern. It argues that “participation” is a type of “global discourse” that is central to current forms of global governance, as well as to debates on, and around, globalisation. It sheds light on the internal mechanics of the call for “ever-broader participation” by social actors in decisions that affect them – as well as on the normative and instrumental grounds from which this call draws its strength.