Since the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, the active participation of citizens in the deliberations of public policies has been discussed, promoted and practiced by several social groups.. Beside the traditional mechanisms of political representation, deliberative democracy is understood as a tool to transform the relationship between State and Society in Brazil. The aim of this paper is to examine the limits and possibilities of direct democracy from the examination of some assumptions underlying the debate on participation. Starting from the main assumptions underlying the shared management experiences underway in Brazil, the article attempts to point out some conceptual errors, unfounded assumptions and factual errors encountered. Such assumptions have been embedded in the discussion on the subject for many years, echoing debates throughout the history of the construction of the Brazilian state. Analyzing them is essential to recognise the limits of participation and its potential for effective transformation in relations between State and Society in a country marked by strong traditions of authoritarianism and inequality.
Citzenship; Participation; Democracy; Citzen participation; Delibertative democracy