CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: AN ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC POLICIES IN BARBALHA-CE

Abstract

Considering that social participation has consolidated as a central element for ensuring the effectiveness and legitimacy of governmental actions, this article analyzes the influence of social control mechanisms on the formulation and implementation of public policies aimed at social sustainability, taking the municipality of Barbalha, Ceará, as the object of study. The research adopts a quanti-qualitative approach, integrating documentary analysis and the interpretation of budgetary data extracted from the Multi-Year Plan (PPA 2022–2025) and the Budget Guidelines Law (LDO 2026). The results indicate that, although legal frameworks and institutional instruments exist to foster citizen participation—such as municipal councils and sectoral conferences—the effectiveness of public engagement remains limited by structural factors, including low social adherence, administrative weaknesses, and the predominantly consultative nature of participatory bodies. The analyzed financial data reveal a strong prioritization of education and health sectors, along with specific advances such as the maximum score obtained by the municipality in the Municipal Environmental Quality Index (IQM 2022), contrasted by a lower performance in the Municipal Management Effectiveness Index (IEGM 2024). It was also observed that programs such as Bolsa Jovem have the potential to strengthen inclusion and promote greater citizen co-responsibility. The study concludes that the consolidation of social participation in Barbalha depends on the articulation between redistributive policies, administrative transparency, and the incentive for community engagement, constituting an essential element for advancing social sustainability and strengthening democratic governance in medium-sized municipalities.