Participação na integração : uma análise sobre a presença da sociedade civil nas Cúpulas Social do MERCOSUL (2006-2013)

Abstract

The present work sought to understand how is the performance of civil society within the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) considering: the associative format, the performance scale and the demands and interests that it presents. The Summit provided the introduction of new associations of civil society in the Southern Common Market discussions and consequently the inclusion of demands from this new participatory agenda in the block. Although civil society associations that work at the Summit have its operations predominantly at the national or local level, MERCOSUR provides a framework of opportunities that stimulate transnational interconnection between civil society – it is becoming a place where civil society is able to look for new ideas and push their States or propagate ideas from your country to the others, creating connections. For this exploratory research was carried out a qualitative analysis based mainly on documentary research. Thus, the mapping was done from the analysis block official documents obtained on the Internet, such as meeting minutes, resolutions, protocols and final declarations of the summits held in the years 2006-2013. Also they were made several contacts to obtain data not available in the virtual environment, especially the one with Dr. Janina Onuki researcher who kindly gave interviews with some participants of the Summit and the interview with the Head of International Advisory of General Secretariat from Presidency of the Republic, Fabrício Prado. As a theoretical basis, it was carried out a literature of the concept of civil society in Contemporary Democratic Theory, trying to understand their adequacy and applicability to the reality of the Latin American continent and the MERCOSUR. This being an economic bloc of regional integration that has stimulated the participation of civil society in recent years, this dissertation seek to exploit a recent theme and little studied by the news presenting. Tried to contribute mainly to a general characterization - a picture - the main associations that participated in the areas authorized by the block in terms of social and citizen participation.