A COMUNICA O E DEMOCRACIA NA IMPLANTA O DE HIDRELéTRICAS

The research is about the power of communication towards the implementation of projects derived from public policies, with a high socio-environmental impact, set by the government for society in the condition of public interest. The object is the communication process linked to the Hydroelectric Power Plant Foz do Chapecó, on Uruguay River (SC/RS – Brazil). The theoretical aspect is based on the importance given to communication by the theory of public sphere, with a qualitative approach and critical analysis of speech. Identifying the organizations that took part in the contentious process has revealed an extensive and complex network, but only a few, such as concessionary enterprise. The conclusion of this work was that communication is a central and constitutive element of negotiations regarding the space and a strategic factor on the relations between governmental, market and civil society organizations.