On the Deliberative Process: An Analysis of the 13th State Conference on Social Assistance in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Research objective: To analyze how the practice of e-Participation, applied at the 13th Social Assistance Conference of the State of Santa Catarina, held in 2021, favored or hindered participation and to what extent it influenced the actors in decision-making. Theoretical framework: Conferences are spaces for social participation and deliberation to formulate plans for Social Assistance policy and have been held in Brazil since 1995, in person. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the format was changed to virtual. To support these perspectives, we explored the literature on citizen participation in conferences, e-participation during the Covid-19 pandemic, elements that influence the e-participation process and mediation. Methodology: We analyze the three phases of the conference process: preparation, execution and conclusion. The methodological design is mainly influenced by the work of Coelho, Cunha and Pozzebon (2022) who follow a process-based approach, and consider the actors, design, interaction, mechanisms of influence and mediation, together, lead to the results of the process of e-participation. We used multiple sources for this analysis: bibliographic and documentary research, questionnaire and observation. Results: The virtual format presents greater objectivity to the discussion of agendas, favors the inclusion of more individuals, and requires less investment to hold conferences. However, it requires greater skill from participants, especially in the use of technology, which makes participation difficult, especially for users of the Unified Social Assistance System. Originality: Studies on conferences have investigated distinct elements. However, there is a lack of studies on conferences in an online format, specifically in social assistance and during the pandemic period. Theoretical and practical contributions: The research contributes by noting that many of the difficulties presented in the virtual online format are also highlighted in studies on conferences in an in-person format.