Abstract:

Participatory budgeting as an instrument of smart gevernance has spread through Euripean cities in the past decades. Lately, the concept has also been implemented bu several municipalities in the Czech Republic. This paper evalutes that implementation, focusing on both the tools that have been implemented and the extent of the implementation. The paper concludes that participatory budgeting as it is currently implemented in the Czech municipalities is more of an ornamental detail and a marketing device rather than an instrument increasing political participation of the residents.