The article focuses on the subject of social and political participation, theorized in academia and present in Brazilian reality in both civil society – by social movements, collectives and other organizations – as in the state – by public policies. A rescue of the concept and the main theoretical approaches to participation is made. Ten approaches are identified as they have been applied in the analysis of different forms of socio and cultural participation, coming from both social groups and state institutions. The central issues that guide the analysis are: How have these approaches dealt with the subject of social inequalities? As these chains have contributed to the understanding, or to give subsidies, to the participation of civil society in the process of fighting for inclusion, discrimination and social equality? What agendas can be built from the approaches?
Social participation; Theories; Social inequality