A participação nos limites da deliberação: uma investigação sobre a participação social no conselho municipal de direitos da pessoa com deficiência de Imperatriz – Ma

Abstract

This thesis addresses the social participation of people with disabilities in the deliberations of the Municipal Council for the Rights of People with Disabilities in Imperatriz (CMDPD), in the state of Maranhão, aiming to fill a significant gap in the legal sciences related to the inclusion and recognition of this marginalized group. This research seeks to intersect law, politics and sociology to investigate how deliberative democracy can promote the recognition of fundamental rights for people with disabilities, adopting a critical bias. The problem investigated focuses on how the Municipal Council enables or limits the social participation of people with disabilities in public policy decisions. The aim of this study is to analyze the participatory dynamics of people with disabilities within the council, identifying mechanisms that favor or hinder their effective inclusion in deliberations. The methodology adopted is qualitative, with a research design that includes a case study, document analysis, semistructured interviews with council members, and direct observation of council sessions over three and a half years. The data was analyzed using content categorization, complemented by questionnaires applied to actors involved in policy and defending the rights of people with disabilities in the local context. The results of this investigation were condensed into eight analytical categories, highlighting multifaceted challenges in the CMDPD. Of particular note is the limited social participation and collective representation of organizations, which, although active, show insufficient engagement and coordination. The exercise of social control proved to be restricted and lacked effective coordination. Digital activism, despite being considered a promising vector for broadening participation in councils, faces specific obstacles in involving people with disabilities, signaling the importance of making digital platforms more inclusive. Emotions emerged as an effective means of communication in deliberations, contributing to inclusion. However, deliberative procedures are compromised by administrative barriers, lack of active participation, neglect of asymmetries between councillors and limitations in resolving collective demands. The most significant challenges identified include the need for greater social inclusion, the fragmentation of organizations and movements, and the lack of political, material and institutional support. The identification and critical analysis of these factors provides a basis for rethinking deliberative practices, with a view to improving inclusion and making the rights of people with disabilities more effective. In this sense, the work contributes to the debate on deliberative democracy and social inclusion in the face of new participatory contexts.