Sociology's Role in Democratic Reconstruction: the creation of the National Plan for Artisanal Fishing

Abstract

The work presented here reflects on my participation, as a sociologist, in the multidisciplinary team that accompanied the regional plenaries and the national plenary, which formed part of the construction of the National Plan for Artisanal Fisheries. Held between October 2024 and September 2025, the plenaries brought together different artisanal fishing communities to discuss their problems and propose solutions. The Plan represents an action of great significance after years of public neglect of the sector and marks progress in the development of public policies in the country, given the collective, open, and inclusive nature of the discussions. During the plenaries, the active participation and strong articulation of traditional fishing peoples stood out. As protagonists of the democratic process, they had the power to guide and vote on their interests, with academia standing alongside them in a supportive role. In this way, this article aims to reflect on my sociological work in this context, highlighting both the limits and possibilities of my role as a social scientist. The starting point for this discussion is Michel Burawoy’s concept of public sociology (2005), which proposes a sociology in the service of the community.