Critical Analysis

INTRODUCTION
Citizen participation in the decision making processes is a foundation of modern democracy and a starting point for construction of inclusive and fair society. Level of participation, models and types of citizens’ organization depend on many factors, thus it is important that the state sets up institutional mechanisms for facilitation of citizens’ access, which is the basic precondition and motivating factor for the increase of participation, and at the same time improvement of policies and service which suit the needs of target groups, and naturally increase transparency and responsibility of public sector.   Participation can be individual but it can also imply activities through engagement in interest groups, associations and movements, i.e. civil society organizations (CSO). In this research paper I use terms citizen- citizen participation and participation of civil society, as forms of associations and manners in which the citizens choose to participate and give contribution to decision making processes, and with that, to development of the society. This decision is based on a concept that different kinds of citizens’ engagement and participation can fall under the civil society sector.

Group of rights that a citizen has as an individual is based on fundamental principles of freedom, equality and equal rights, and universality. In a democratic state, an individual or a group uses its rights and requests responsibility from leaders, but at the same time „democratic policies provides its citizens with a distinctive ‘standing’ – one which involves certain basic rights with respect to the political domain, together with certain responsibilities.” The fact that the rights that citizens have simultaneously mean obligation implies that every citizen who expects fulfillment of its rights has to simultaneously feel an obligation to use them actively. Definition of citizen participation encompasses “forums for exchange that are organized for the purpose...