Abstract

ALAYON MONSERAT, Rubén. Barrio Adentro: Fighting Exclusion by Extending Participative Democracy. Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales [online]. 2005, vol.11, n.3, pp.219-244. ISSN 20030507.

This article is dedicated to explaining the origins and the characteristics of the Plan Barrio Adentro, that started in March 2003 in the Municipality El Libertador in Caracas. The author, Coordinator of the Plan from its outset until April 2004, rejects the suggestion that the nature of the Plan is ‘assistentialist’ or designed to promote clientelistic relations and argues that it responds to the basic objectives of the government’s project by favoring the development of a participative democracy in which those directly affected are the protagonists. He offers a detailed explanation of the principles underlying the Plan and the vision of cogestion that is being introduced in the communities.

Keywords : Plan Barrio Adentro; Health; Health Committees; Community Participation; Venezuela.