Abstract

VALVERDE VIESCA, Karla; GUTIERREZ MARQUEZ, Enrique  and  GARCIA SANCHEZ, Flor de María. Public Budget without Participation: The Need for Institutional Change to Consolidate Democracy in Mexico. Rev. mex. cienc. polít. soc [online]. 2013, vol.58, n.218, pp.105-128. ISSN 0185-1918.

Over the last thirty years, Mexico has undergone an important consolidation of its institutional framework, focused primarily on the electoral and political system. This process of political change was accompanied by a significant transformation and liberalization of the financial and economic system. Mexico's current situation proves that both processes do not yield satisfactory results when social problems are left unattended. In fact, the transition from a noncompetitive political system to a more democratic one, has not guaranteed better living conditions for most of the population, in part because there is practically no participation in public life on behalf of most of the citizenry. This article reflects on the fundamental importance of citizens' participation in democracy. Particular attention is paid to public participative budgets as factors which may contribute to democracy's consolidation and quality, but which have had negligible impacts thus far as is illustrated by public participative budgets initiatives that have been held in Mexico City.

Keywords : Participatory Public Budget; citizen participation; democracy.

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