Introduction : the question of democracy in a democratic society -- Construction of democracy, public policies and participation of civil society -- Chile : top-down modernization and low intensity re-democratization -- Social policy agendas in the transition to democracy -- Civil society, public policy networks and participatory initiatives -- From the civil society to the state : a new elite is born? -- Conclusion : participation and public policies in the Chilean democratic process
Summary
Since the end of the Pinochet regime, Chilean public policy has sought to rebuild democratic governance in the country. This book examines the links between the state and civil society in Chile and the ways social policies have sought to ensure the inclusion of the poor in society and democracy. Although Chile has gained political stability and grown economically, the ability of social policies to expand democratic governance and participation has proved limited, and in fact such policies have become subordinate to an elitist model of democracy and resulted in a restrictive form of citizen pa