Decentralization and Participation: the Montevidian Experience
Beginning with the proposition that a true process of decentralization must necessarily be a process of democratization, such a process is understood as a privileged instrument for participation. Indeed, for a deepening of democratic practices, the ways which should be taken are via decentralization...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
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Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB)
1999-10-01
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| Series: | Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals |
| Online Access: | http://www.cidob.org/es/content/download/5559/54551/file/47revello.pdf |
| Summary: | Beginning with the proposition that a true process of decentralization must necessarily be a process of democratization, such a process is understood as a privileged instrument for participation. Indeed, for a deepening of democratic practices, the ways which should be taken are via decentralization and social participation. This article describes and analyzes the experience of decentralization in Montevideo, a fundamental project created by the coalition of leftist parties that have governed the capital of Uruguay since 1990, a project which had no historical antecedents in the country. The department of Montevideo divided into 18 zones and created juntas locales (local boards) - local, decentralized politicalorgans with representation from all the parties - and neighborhood councils. The Neighborhood Councils are representative organs that voice the neighborhood’s interests. Not integrated in the public municipal structure, these constitute private civil society organizations. They are consultative and consultancy bodies with the important tasks of initiative and proposal, planning, consultation, evaluation and the control over the communal management. Also described in the article is the methodology for the project’s improvement and progressive sophistication, which is in function of, among other factors, the degree of effectiveness and reaching of objectives that emerge from the permanent control and evaluation carried out year to year. The strategy presented emphasizes the need for ensuring that the community directly monitors and controls the process of municipal management to safeguard the democratic character of the process. |
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| ISSN: | 1133-6595 2013-035X |