Governance and participation in the Lujan River basin. Conceptual framework and case analysis

In this paper we put into consideration the theoretical background on governance and participation and propose a scale for the assessment of citizen participation in the planning, management and evaluation of the plans and programs of the Lujan River Basin Committee (COMILU). A strategy and institutional management modality is evident that tends to limit multi-level governance and citizen participation to levels sufficient to accredit << openness >> and legitimize pre-existing decisions, rather than an active commitment to democratic governance processes. This guideline deepens the existing power asymmetries in the basin and enables the reproduction of existing socio territorial inequalities. We suggest that a way to open a democratic governance process can be established by facilitating an active role for citizens and making the national State play a key role, since it has normative and institutional tools to contribute to improving the conditions of multilevel governance.