Social and citizen participation on public space. The case of Plaza del Otorongo in Cuenca-Ecuador

Abstract

This study examines how social and citizen participation affect public space. It studies the Plaza del Otorongo as a public space that has recently undergone a process of transformation. This work is qualitative and uses participatory techniques. The analysis shows that characteristics of the public space depend on the predominant participation. Social participation is configured in a scenario where there is a weak relationship between neighbors and the preponderance of associations based on sectorial interests. On the other hand, citizen participation is legitimized by the citizenry by focusing on the formal level, relegating social initiatives to informality. Thus, there is a predominance of institutional administration in the shaping of the space.