Charter of Participatory Democracy: A Call for Action Towards a Balanced Democratic System.

In 2016, the European Council of Spatial Planners - Conseil Europeen des Urbanistes (ECTP-CEU) published a Charter on Participatory Democracy, which has since been gaining recognition from leaders in urban governance across Europe. Here, the Honorary President of the ECTP-CEU shares insights from the chalkface', explaining the work involved in establishing a shared vision of the foundational principles of participatory democracy. The premises and shared understandings behind the articles in the Charter are unpacked and positioned within the wider European spatial planning policy context. The message is clearly a salutary one in the present context of challenges to representative democracy, and an urgent call to action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]