Governance for the city: Citizen decision-making power

Abstract

Governance as a notion of a good government, aimed at managing common affairs efficiently, aspires to a collaborative balance between the state, civil society and the market. Citizen participation is considered an essential feature, a key tool for achieving effective governance, which in theory involves the inhabitants of the territory in public policy decision-making. The city-territory is presented as the main field of action of governance, being a geographic space where urban policies that aim to serve collective interests, are applied. In this context, governance for the city seeks not only to efficiently manage resources and services, but also to ensure that the decisions made reflect the demands and concerns of citizens. The essay raises the question of how to integrate the concept of governance in the Mexican political system, a representative democratic one, where decision-making power has already been granted to the government through democratic election.  The reflection concludes in the incorporation of the concept of governance in the urban planning guidelines, strengthening its application from the participation bodies. This in order to improve urban planning regulations.