Governance, participation, and development

Local power’s perspective in Portugal

Bibliographic Data

ID21691981
AuthorsPedro Chamusca (0000-0001-6921-8057, University of Minho, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume30
Issue3
Pages292-318
Publication date2025-07-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Planning Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1356-3475 • E-ISSN: 1469-9265
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13563475.2025.2457656
OpenAlexW4406875648
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited31

This paper examines the local governance model in Portugal, focusing on its characteristics, evolution, and the valuation of local agents’ participation, involvement, and capacity building. Using an online questionnaire distributed to politicians and technicians, the study reveals that the Portuguese governance system is widely perceived as inadequate for addressing complex and accelerating socio-economic dynamics. Centralist and bureaucratic structures, coupled with limited resources, institutional capacity, unsustainable policies, and weak evaluation mechanisms, are identified as key barriers to effectiveness. Despite these shortcomings, the governance model receives positive evaluations in areas such as legitimacy, representation, and communication, with respondents recognizing the democratic legitimacy of decision-making processes. The study concludes that promoting decentralization, reducing bureaucratic complexity, and enhancing transparency and accountability are essential for fostering citizen participation and improving governance outcomes. These findings provide a basis for understanding the gaps in the Portuguese governance model and offer insights for future research and policymaking

Corporate governance · Economic system · Economics · Local Development · Management · Political science · Regional science · Sociology · Computer Science · E-Government and Public Services · Local Government Finance and Decentralization · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research

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