Resumen

PENAGLIA VASQUEZ, Francesco Emanuel. The paradox of power: elitization or collective empowerment?. Polis [online]. 2012, vol.11, n.32, pp.105-118. ISSN 0718-6568.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-65682012000200007.

Participation -understood as the influence and intervention ofcitizenship in public issues and in the political system- requires greater action andempowerment capacity. Therefore, the study of power inside the civil society is acentral topic; further, understanding the current context of social movements andphenomena that establish a new relationship between civil society and the State.Thus, the following article investigates different theoretical perspectives establishingthe "paradox of power" through which the organization and coordination of thecommunity in associations, provides more action and empowerment capacities ofthe collectivity (more participation); as well as it can generate the elitization andthe concentration of power in a directing group who does not represent all theinterests of the community (less participation).

Palabras clave : poder; participación; elitización; sociedad civil; sistema político; participation; elitization; civil society; political system.

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