This article analyzes the problems which have
accompanied the growth of the citizen participation
and public interest movements. The principle problems
identified are the potential shortsightednesso f
the administrative response to citizen demands,
problems of representation and legitimacy, the style
and tactics of citizen groups, and the absence of
sophisticated cost-benefit analysis of public interest
policies and programsT. he authors uggestst hat public
participation which is not carefully ordered and
constrained by administrators can lead to poorly
conceived, unrepresentativea, nd costly policy decisions.
Administratorsa re chiefly responsiblef or the
integrity of the administrativep rocess, and sensitivity
to citizen demands is no substitute for independent,
carefully reasoned, professional judgments regarding
the nature of the public interest in each new
administrativesi tuation