Abstract

VARGAS PAREDES, M. Saúl. Evaluating social participation: democracy and public policies. Rev. Mex. Sociol [online]. 2011, vol.73, n.1, pp.105-137. ISSN 2594-0651.

This article evaluates the influence of social participation on public policy results. It considers four case studies in the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) of international importance. There are two hypotheses. The first is that both the composition of policy networks and the efficiency of strategies -rather than social participation- are key factors that influence both the policy process and the initial result of policies. The second is that participation becomes a political rather than a policy instrument (which may affect the process but not necessarily the results of public policies).

Keywords : social participation; policy networks; democracy; public policies.