Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Improving citizen participation in local government in Latin America through international cooperation: a case study

2004; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 14; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/0961452042000239779

1364-9213

W. E. Hewitt,

Public Policy and Administration Research

Abstract Issues related to democratic restructuring and citizenship at the municipal level in Latin America have been the subject of increasing interest and debate among scholars and development practitioners in recent years. This study investigates how international cooperation may facilitate enhanced citizen participation in local‐level decision making in the region by examining a specific Canadian‐sponsored linking project involving the cities of Charlesbourg, Quebec (Canada) and Ovalle (Chile). The study presents a relatively optimistic account of the role that innovations transferred as a result of this project have played in enhancing citizen involvement in local government. At the same time, it suggests that any such gains may be limited and must be viewed within the larger politico‐administrative context in Latin America and attendant factors restricting the establishment of a broad democratic culture at the local level. Acknowledgement Funding for this study was provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Notes With approximately 74 per cent of the population living in urban areas, Latin America is one of the most urbanised regions on the planet. See UNDP (Citation1999:200). In the case of Chile, for example, the sub‐national share of total public expenditure remains very low at 8.5 per cent, as compared to 49 per cent for Canada. See World Bank (Citation2000:210). For a more general assessment of the situation in Latin America, see Nickson (Citation1995:19, 57) and Rodrigues and Winchester (Citation1996:26–27). The cities of Charlesbourg and Ovalle have cooperated in a number of other areas unrelated to democratic restructuring. These have involved exchange of information in areas such as transit, parks and leisure, and administrative procedures. See Hewitt (Citation2000). Interview with Glenn Flores, 10 December 1999. Interview with Glenn Flores, 10 December 1999. Interview with Glenn Flores, 10 December 1999. Interview with Glenn Flores, 10 December 1999. Interview with Leopoldo Pizarro, 7 December 1999. Interview with Juan Mundaca, 8 December 1999. Interview with Juan Mundaca, 8 December 1999. Interview with Alberto Gallardo Flores, 7 December 1999. Interview with Ana Araya, 8 December 1999. Interview with Juan Mundaca, 8 December 1999. Interview with Gerardo Peñafiel, 9 December 1999.