Citizen Participation and Social Mediation. A Reflection Based on Social Consulting Practice

Citizen participation has been part of the democratic system in the government of cities for decades. It attempts to fill the existing democratic disaffection. This democratic practice requires a budget and a series of conditions such as political will, strategies of participation, structures that accept them, a combination of different skills and knowledge, politicians, experts, technicians and citizens. To bring all this knowledge together it is necessary to develop a participation pedagogy that includes consulting and social mediation. In order to do so, professional communicative competence, the ability to listen and the capacity to exert a positive influence on the communication of the participants are required.