DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN PRACTICE - THE CASE OF COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS

This paper evaluates the achievement of 'direct democracy' in Communit y Ownership schemes. Community Ownership is a programme in Scotland to create small, community-based housing associations and cooperatives i n areas of former council housing. The paper reviews four different vi ews of direct democracy: as a form of radical politics; as a means of encouraging better or more rational decision making; as a method of ro lling back the state, improving competition and consumer choice; and a s a way of improving liberal democracy. It concludes that Community Ow nership is neither radical politics nor privatisation, but that it has resulted in better service provision and has provided some limited de mocratic benefits.