CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN VENEZUELA UTOPIA OR REALITY?

Theoretical concepts and the startup of de territorial or local development model involves a complex process of social, cultural, political, economic, psychological and technologic interrelationships. These interrelationships are importantly influenced by the institutional framework set up in the territory or in region where the model will be used. A democratic and free institutional framework promoting citizen participation is essential to design and create new economic horizons, which is possible through decentralized organizational structures that allow planning to be executed down (from de the local base) up and take into account the developed countries public policies. The current situation that polarize and exclude people socially and politically in Venezuela suggest that the startup of such a development model is a utopia due to the growing process of re-centralization being enacted by the central government in all areas of the nation.