Social Representations of Citizenship from Communal Perspectives: Meanings, Obstacles, and Social Forms

Abstract

This study sought to understand the social representations of citizenship in the La Fortaleza community, allowing us to reveal the social meaning that its inhabitants build concerning citizenship, the scenarios of community action, and the coexistence pillars in community relations. The epistemological horizon used was based on Moscovici’s theory of social representations and models and types of citizenship inspired by classical or multicultural contexts, among others. Amartya Sen's theory of human capabilities, Adela Cortina's theory of civic cosmopolitanism, and Habermas' theory of civic cosmopolitanism, which focus on communication as a form of social interaction that involves its active strengthening, were also integrated. Qualitative research was used with a phenomenological approach, including Strauss and Corbin’s constant comparative method. Techniques such as documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews were used. The findings revolved around understanding citizenship as a recognition of the territory, a manifestation of social values, an exercise of being, an expression of constitutional rights, and finally, as social welfare.