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This article critically examines emerging public participatory processes and rhetoric about their ability to increase participatory democracy. The author questions the assumption that participatory democracy is an adequate goal for North American democratic decision-making processes; rather, both government and ADR practitioners should consider the potential of diversity-based democratic theory to inform participatory processes. The author draws from several emerging democratic and ADR theories to form a series of recommendations to incorporate diversity-based practice, thus improving the quality of democratic participation.