The past three decades have seen an international 'turn to participation' - letting those who will be affected by neighbourhood planning outcomes play an active role in decision-making - but there is widespread dissatisfaction with actual instances of citizen-state engagement. This innovative analysis brings theory, research and practice together and gives insights into how and why citizen voices either become effective or get excluded. Using ethnographic data to illustrate a wide range of participatory and localist governance practices and social movements, the book concludes with recommendations to re-invigorate community involvement in planning.