Having developed conceptually and analytically civil society as a sociological category (based on a conceptual reflection stemming from a theoretical-epistemological dialogue between the collectivist and liberal perspectives), this article accounts for the implications that allow us to understand the potential of civil society in contributing to democratization. Throughout this work the dynamics that characterize the ambiguous relationship between civil society and community -ambiguous in as much communities with exceptionally strong ties between its members can provide both elements for the strengthening of civil society as well as obstacles to its growth- are analyzed. It is argued that the role of communities in relation to civil society in the social construction and civil strengthening of citizenship will depend on several factors, particularly the mechanisms available to build consensus within the community. The threat stemming from neopluralism as a novel discourse of interest intermediation, both for the community and civil society, is explored. In the final section, the implications of this discourse for democracy are discussed.

Luego de desarrollar conceptual y analíticamente la categoría de sociedad civil (a partir de un reflexión emanada del intercambio teórico-epistemológico entre la perspectiva colectivista y liberal), el artículo da cuenta de aquellas implicancias que nos permiten comprender el potencial de la sociedad civil para contribuir a la democratización. A su vez, se analizan las dinámicas que caracterizan el vínculo ambiguo entre sociedad civil y comunidad -ambiguo ya que las comunidades con lazos excepcionalmente fuertes entre sus miembros pueden ofrecer tanto elementos para el fortalecimiento de la sociedad civil como obstáculos para su crecimiento-; se sostiene que el papel que tendrán las comunidades en relación con la sociedad civil en la construcción social y el fortalecimiento civil de ciudadanía dependerá de varios factores, particularmente de los mecanismos disponibles para lograr consensos dentro de la comunidad y se explora la amenaza emanada de un nuevo discurso de intermediación de intereses (tanto para la comunidad como para la sociedad civil), el neopluralismo. En la sección final se discuten sus implicaciones para la democracia.

A primeira parte do artigo examina dois modelos opostos de cidadania, no contexto da América Latina: a cidadania como consumo, que reflete as consequências da influência de reformas orientadas para o mercado sobre os padrões de representação, no âmbito dos direitos políticos universais; e a cidadania como agência, que reflete o surgimento de formas alternativas de participação através da sociedade civil, bem como o seu potencial impacto sobre os padrões de representação política. A segunda parte discute o potencial da cidadania como agência, contrastando o impacto da Lei de Participação Popular da Bolívia com o Orçamento Participativo de Porto Alegre, no Brasil.

The paper first discusses 2 opposing models of citizenship within Latin American: citizenship as consumption, which reflects the consequences of the pervasive influence of market-oriented reforms on patterns of representation in the context of universal political rights, and citizenship as agency, which would reflect the emergence of alternative forms of participation through civil society and their potential impact on political patterns of representation. The second part of the paper then examines the potential for citizenship as agency to emerge by contrasting the impact of the Popular Participation Law in Bolivia and Participatory Budgeting in Porto Alegre, Brazil.