Między partycypacją a współrządzeniem. Kierunki rozwoju partycypacji publicznej w Polsce

The purpose of the article is to present the evolution of public participation in Poland and to identify its stages, as well as to answer the question of whether the applied solutions allow for the occurrence of participatory co-governance or only strengthen citizen participation. On the basis of historical events, formal and legal conditions and non-governance activity, four key periods have been identified: the time of “Solidarity” (1980–1989), systemic transformation and the development of self-government and civil society (1989–2002), intersectoral cooperation and EU membership (2003–2015), centralisation of the model of governance and institutionalisation of participation (2015–2023). The results of the analysis prove that the measures taken do not have the effect of creating radical change, but only some adjustment. Although the implemented standards do not determine the occurrence of participatory co-governance, they strengthen citizen participation in public decision-making. The article uses a systemic and institutional-legal method and an analysis of the literature on the subject.