<![CDATA[Village deliberation is a strategic instrument of local governance in Indonesia, yet national data show that among more than 75 thousand villages recorded in the 2024 Village Potential Census, community participation in village decision-making remains uneven and is often dominated by village elites. This study aims to analyze the implementation of village deliberation as a form of local democracy from the perspective of participatory democracy theory in Karanggeneng Village, Lamongan Regency. The study employs a qualitative approach using a descriptive method. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews with the village head, the Village Consultative Body (BPD), village officials, and community leaders, and documentation, and were analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing, with triangulation applied to ensure validity. The results show that village deliberation has been conducted openly and participatively and has become the primary forum for formulating village development policy, in which the community voices aspirations, determines development priorities, and oversees program implementation. However, the quality of participation is not yet fully equal, as it is still influenced by education level, experience, and confidence in voicing opinions. From the perspective of participatory democracy theory, the practice reflects Carole Pateman's participatory education, Jürgen Habermas's public sphere, and Robert A. Dahl's polyarchy theory.]]>
