Participações juventures e políticas públicas: o processo da Conferência de Juventude da Bahia - 2008

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the participation of youth in the construction of youth policy in Bahia, in the Bahia Youth Conference, held in 2008. It starts with the assumption that, even before a speech in favor of participation, this is not effective in defining the directions of public policy, serves up suggestions for the survey, but decision making is still restricted to a strategic body State Government. We chose a qualitative approach for the analysis of empirical data and used the semistructured individual interview in order to reveal the meanings and beliefs of youth regarding their participation in the Conference. The theoretical issues discussed were participation, youth and public policy. The results of the interviews reinforced the role of participation in the conference as a way of involving young people to confer legitimacy on the government proposals. Despite the advances, are not substantive, because the political arena is still characterized by particularism and the corporatism of the actors and not by the sharing of power in defining the public interest.