By looking jointly at the debate on alternative forms of political representation and studies on associations and their contributions to democracy, this paper proposes to analyze the practices of representation, in particular the Brazilian councils, as another repertoire of action that expands and, in many cases, overloads ass ociative action, impacting their democratic benefits. The paper proposes an analytical exercise based on the following questions. Keeping in mind the different profi les within the associative fi eld, the characteristics and requisites of this kind of institutional representation, and the participation of associations and social movements in different political and social fronts, to what extent does this form of institutional action combine with or clash with more participatory forms of action? Is it possible to pinpoint a typology that would unite the group of associations that best perform the function of institutional representation?
associations; participation; representation; councils; democracy
