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This publication on citizen participation, local governance and deepening democracy is the product of a collaborative research carried out during an 18-month systematization project. It consolidates the knowledge produced and disseminated by LogoLink, the Learning Initiative on Citizen Participation and Local Governance, over the past 10 years on these themes.

During the 1990s, civil society mobilizations took place in many countries in a backdrop of transition from authoritarian to democratic governance regimes. At the time, regional and international networks committed to deepening democracy and social justice set an agenda facing authoritarian and centralist structures of government, and demanded de- centralization, democracy, citizen participation, and social control of public policies.

Nowadays, citizen participation and social control are terms esteemed, widely accepted and employed by various political and social actors. But it has not always been so.

This publication offers an insightful and critical analysis of citizen participation and social control in the Americas, Africa and Asia, in the last 10 years. It brings to light challenging processes of democratization and decentralization at the local level across the globe.

Each chapter was written by a partner organization of LogoLink. Authors did not have to follow any pattern, only the orientations of the concept note of the LogoLink Systematiza- tion & Knowledge Dissemination Initiative. All chapters were edited by the International Coordination team of the network, editors of this publication. The complete version of each article as well as information about the Systematization & Knowledge Dissemination Initiative are available online at www.logolink.org.

We thank the numerous researchers and fellows from our LogoLink partners who contributed with their insights, extensive knowledge, experience and patience to write this publication. We also thank the Ford Foundation for the incredible support to LogoLink over the last 11 years, and for believing that we can contribute to building a more democratic world.

We hope to inspire citizens, partners, friends around the world to engage in initiatives that will strengthen democratic accountability and citizen participation.

The publication is available for download at: http://www.logolink.org/index.php/resource/center/813