Impact of the Institutional Capacities of the Municipality of Talcahuano on Youth Citizen Participation (2021–2022)

Abstract

Institutional capacities are an essential factor in achieving the goals of institutions, one of which is the design, application, and promotion of mechanisms for citizen participation in decision-making. In Chile, at the local level, municipal governments are responsible for implementing these instances, overseeing the local administration of territories. Within the regulatory framework governing them is Law No. 18,695, which establishes participatory mechanisms to be applied in municipalities, based on modifications introduced in 2011 by Law No. 20,500. However, the effective implementation of participatory mechanisms may vary depending on each municipality's capacity, influenced by factors such as available resources, political will, and personnel readiness, potentially affecting the relationship between the youth target audience and the municipality. In this context, this study focuses on analyzing the institutional capacity of the Illustrious Municipality of Talcahuano regarding youth citizen participation during the period 2021 – 2022. Through a qualitative case study approach, it seeks to understand officials' and youths' perceptions of these capacities and characterize the current scenario. Through content analysis of secondary sources and semi-structured interviews, the impact of institutional capacities on youth involvement in decision-making is detailed, providing valuable insights to strengthen local citizen participation and promote more effective youth representation in community life.