Promises, Threats, and Norms: A Mixed Methods Study on Bureaucratic Support for Public Participation

Abstract

Public participation can enhance policy quality and democratic legitimacy but may threaten bureaucratic control. We hypothesize that bureaucratic support for participation is higher when policies are less complex and participants are broadly representative. Using a mixed‐methods design involving Indonesian local public servants, we pursue complementarity by combining a 2 × 2 vignette‐based survey experiment with a Gioia analysis of qualitative reflections to explain the experimental results and further illuminate how bureaucrats evaluate participation. The experiment shows that participant representativeness significantly increases support, whereas policy complexity has no statistically significant effect. Integrating the experimental and qualitative data through joint displays reveals that bureaucrats rejecting participation frequently cite participant‐related risks, whereas supporters emphasize instrumental, procedural, and implementation benefits. Normative values, such as citizens' rights and democratic principles, are acknowledged regardless of bureaucrats' overall support. We conclude that bureaucratic support for public participation reflects how officials balance its promises, threats, and normative foundations.