Reflexões sobre representação e cultura política no município de Beberibe

Abstract

This research investigated the representations concerning the role of councilors as political agents, based on their self perception and the image projected against citizens with respect to actions taken in the exercise of their mandates. During the study, are listed the similarities and discrepancies between the views of councilors and citizens relating to the actions of those politicians. To this end, the Municipality of Beberibe / Ceará was the empirical field set, being the data collection performed by applying semi-structured interviews with thirteen councilors of the municipality, the analysis of pronouncements of the current legislature, as well as through questionnaires for householders. It was observed that the different representations are identified related to a political culture still guided by a low density democratic, a fact that is identified by mapping the existing dialogue between parliament and citizens channels, the profile of respondents, the quality of legislative output and citizen participation. The results indicate that the established political culture assumes patronage feature and physiologist, fueled by welfare actions and by a ratio of harnessing the Executive. Although most respondents have demonstrated know the true functions of aldermen citizens, in turn, even though clearly demonstrating some of the activities performed by the aldermen, do not develop an active role in monitoring the municipal legislature. It is believed that as the company understands the political dimension of their participation in the construction of the public sphere, the aldermen can positively reflect this new social consciousness, creating a renewed political culture, seated under the foundations of participatory democracy.