La participación ciudadana en las Estrategias Regionales de Desarrollo Estudio de casos de las regiones del Maule y Bío-Bío, Chile

Abstract

Influencing decisions of public affairs is one of the main demands of citizens facing the crisis of democracy. Participation mechanisms, inserted in management, are partly intended to respond to this request. Our study examines, in two regions of Chile, the participatory development of Regional Strategies Development (ERD). By systematizing documentary information and analyzing the contents of interviews with key stakeholders, we have addressed our hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that deliberative citizen participation improves plans of: democratic legitimacy, decisions related to results, coordination of players, collective learning and strengthening. Regarding participation implementation, we observe that despite having adequate resources and methodologies, there are important weaknesses concerning the involvement of citizens. In terms of results, greater democratic legitimacy and enormous potential for collective learning and strengthening are recognized. The weaknesses are, firstly, the lack of clarity in determining the result of deliberation agreements results become. Secondly, in the perception that existing cultural factors potentiate individualism, thereby leading to citizen disinterest and weak institutional coordination. Even with the current limitations, there is place to democratize public governance, incorporating more participation and deliberation. However it is necessary to strengthen participation in the design, plan implementation, further evaluation and feedback from key players. That is, a policy that improves in qualitatively and quantitatively, medium and long term democratic participation.

Date of Award	30 May 2013
Original language	Spanish
Supervisor	Joaquin Brugue Torruella (Director)