“Running from Behind.” An Analysis of the Neighborhood Councils of Montevideo

With the intention of exploring one of the central themes in current studies on participatory democracy, this study analyzes the influence of institutional design on citizens’ participation, focusing on a concrete experience –the neighborhood councils of Montevideo. The following is analyzed: a) The institutional design of these councils, b) The influence of these councils on the definition of public policies, c) Their operation as “citizenship schools,” and d) The levels of citizen support that they convoke. The conclusions of the study signal that design considerably limits the performance of neighborhood councils in terms of both the influence that they have in decision-making as well as the development of civic virtues and political capital. Thus, it is concluded that declines in participation over time is related to institutional.

• Main Author: Ferla, Paula (author)
• Other Authors: Marzuca, Alejandra (author), Serdüit, Uwe (author), Welp, Yanina (author)
• Format: article
• Language: spa
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Participatory democracy; Neighborhood councils; Montevideo; Citizens’ participation; Citizenship schools.; Democracia participativa; Consejos vecinales; Participación ciudadana; Escuelas de ciudadanía
• Online Access: https://iconos.flacsoandes.edu.ec/index.php/iconos/article/view/1213