A CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON PARTICIPATIVE PLANNING FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROVENCE OF MENDOZA,ARGENTINA

摘要

This paper presents a critical perspective of a participative planning project carried out in the city of Mendoza, Argentina. The paper is focused in presenting the methodological approach followed during the project, as well as on some critical reflections regarding its organization and content. rnFrom February 2001 to May 2002 the core activities of the Project “Strategic Plan for Mendoza 2010” were carried out in the Province of Mendoza in Argentina. The project involved the collective, consensus-based definition of a desired future for the Province of Mendoza, as well as the way to achieve that future. The project included the participation of approximately 500 people who represented the various sectors of the population as well as the leading opinion groups of the community. As a result of this effort the people from Mendoza arrived at the definition of a vision of Mendoza for 2010, the strategies to pursue it and, the key projects that would trigger the development of the region. The methodological approach of the project was based on prospective and participative planning techniques and comprised five phases: 1) Identification of the social network and establishment of a coordination group; 2) Analytical diagnosis of the state of the region; 3) Definition of the vision and the strategies for its development; 4) Identification of key projects and, 5) Development of an action plan to carry out the key projects.