Are the Development Plans an Effective Mechanism for Strengthening Participatory Democracy?

Abstract

the author questions whether the National Planning Council, as well as the regional councils, are scenarios for the exercise of democracy and whether their participation in the construction of development plans is an effective strengthening tool, or if they are, instead, a mirage in the practice of democracy in Colombia. In the first part several versions of democracy are mentioned, from the exposed by Lincoln, Tocqueville, Schumpeter, Dahl, Bryce, Borón and Sartori. Identified in each case the key elements to keep as referents and analysis support to account, in the second part, which one of these democracies’ forms describe the modus operandi within the planning councils in the national or the territorial level. Also discussed is the role of the planning councils, the legitimacy, quality and relevance of the activities of its members, as well as the capability to influence in the bill of the National Development Plan, by means of interviews of present and former members of the National and the district planing councils. The author, in addition to responding to questions concerning the subject matter of this reflection, let others issues open to the consideration of the readers.