The book provides a grounded and interdisciplinary analysis of the effectiveness of community participation in urban planning practice in multicultural Australia. The book engages with existing and emerging debates on participation in urban planning and provides fresh evidence to show how and why community participation is problematic, particularly in the context of the status quo of top-down decision-making, neglect of social capital, and marginalisation of diverse community groups. The book provides ways to empower local communities, particularly disadvantaged groups, to ensure representation and accountability in planning practice. The book offers critical guidance on effective community participation for multicultural communities, planners, and development practitioners.