Abstract

DIAZ ALDRET, Ana. From Limited Participation to Disinformation. Difficult Balances in the Execution of Metro Line 12 in Mexico City. Gest. polít. pública [online]. 2018, vol.27, n.3, pp.177-224.  Epub Oct 16, 2020. ISSN 1405-1079.  https://doi.org/10.29265/gypp.v27i3.459.

Megaprojects contribute increasingly to urban development policies. These are projects associated with transport or infrastructure development that involve major transformations and changes in space. Power relations, divergent interests, inequalities in the distribution of the costs and benefits involved, as well as actors’ different capacities become apparent. Megaprojects tend to be non-transparent as promoters (usually the public sector) face with opacity the risk of major opposition. On the other hand, transformation of the urban policy agenda advances towards more horizontal arrangements, collaborative processes and consideration of environmental impacts. Consequently, citizen involvement in policy decision-making increasingly appears to be a resource for urban governance. The execution of the line 12 project of the Mexico City’s Underground Transport System is a good case to test the main thesis of both theoretical developments: megaprojects and citizen involvement as a mean to achieve more effective, equal and legitimate policies. This article examines both the mechanisms activated by the local government in order to consult the population and the strategies deployed by some sectors that were particularly affected by the project. It is proved that disinformation and the lack of communication prevailed and minimum mechanisms to engage citizens were activated. Once conflicts became visible, the local government chose dialogue tables with opponents and less visible negotiation processes that do not correspond to the type of mechanisms that favor open and democratic processes of citizen engagement in policy decision making.

Keywords : citizen engagement; megaprojects; urban policy; line 12.