Inclusive governance: empowering communities and promoting social justice

Governance faces complex challenges such as rapid urbanization, increasing socioeconomic inequality, the effects of climate change, and the need for sustainable economic development. These challenges require the active participation of local and regional stakeholders and marginalized groups often excluded from decision-making processes. To improve social inclusion in territorial governance, adopting more participatory and transparent approaches is vital, ensuring that all voices are heard in planning and implementation at the local and regional levels (Kapucu et al., 2024).Public governance is the process by which social actors establish common objectives and coordinate actions to achieve them. This approach stresses that the action of governing is more relevant than the government itself, emphasizing the importance of involving multiple actors in decision-making (Eckersley et al., 2024). Inclusive governance is presented as a key model for meeting the needs of diverse communities, characterized by its ability to integrate governments, civil organizations, and local communities in decisions that affect their lives.The shift towards new governance is due to social diversity, complexity, and dynamism. These elements require public action that resorts to new modes of governance, such as self-government and co-governance. In this context, fostering an open public administration that allows for effective and equitable participation is essential, thus guaranteeing representative and effective public policies and authentic and lasting social justice (Campomori & Casula, 2022). This paper aims to provide an opinion regarding the analysis of how inclusive governance can transform social and political dynamics in diverse communities, highlighting its role in empowering marginalized groups and promoting social justice.