PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE IN HUEHUETOCA: ANALYSIS OF MECHANISMS, PERCEPTIONS AND CHALLENGES IN MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This study addresses participatory governance in the municipality of Huehuetoca, State of Mexico, in a context where existing regulatory frameworks promote citizen participation, but their practical application is limited and fragmented. Based on background information highlighting the tension between regulations and effective participation in Latin American local governments, the objective was to analyze the mechanisms, perceptions, and challenges facing participatory governance in this municipality. A qualitative exploratory-descriptive design was adopted, using semi-structured interviews with officials, community leaders, and citizens, complemented by documentary analysis. The sample consisted of key actors directly or indirectly linked to participatory processes. The results revealed a poorly disseminated formal institutional framework, sporadic participatory mechanisms, and a citizen perception marked by distrust, ignorance, and limited actual impact. Among the study's main contributions are the systematization of institutional and social barriers that hinder effective participation, as well as the proposal of guidelines for strengthening local co-governance from an inclusive and sustainable perspective.