Interweaving Citizen Perspectives: A Review of The Dynamics of Participation and Democratic Deliberation in three Community Development Plans in the Maule region

Abstract

This article examines the perspectives of community leaders regarding participatory dynamics and deliberative practices at the local level, particularly in the mid-term evaluations of Community Development Plans (Pladeco). It also analyzes the role played by municipal authorities in relation to the implementation and progress of this strategic territorial planning instrument. A qualitative methodological approach was adopted, employing semi-structured interviews and focus groups as data collection techniques. The sample consisted of 14 informants from community organizations in the municipalities of Talca, Curicó, and Linares, three of the four provinces that comprise the Maule Region, Chile.
A latent participatory potential for deliberative practices is identified within citizen participation dynamics, primarily manifested in relation to formally established participation mechanisms. At the same time, processes of direct action, deliberation linked to local projects, and forms of self-managed participation are observed, which tend to be less recognized within the institutional framework. Finally, the analysis of the role of municipal authorities reveals the persistence of misinformation between municipal and neighborhood perspectives, the instrumentalization of the leadership role, and a notable secrecy in the management of local governments.