DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT: FICTION, UTOPIA OR REALITY?

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze democratic management in the educational context, discussing its theoretical foundations, legal basis, and the challenges for its implementation in school institutions. The research was developed through a bibliographic approach, grounded in authors in the field, combined with the analysis of institutional documents such as the Political-Pedagogical Project and Internal Regulations. The results show that, although democratic management is established in Brazilian educational legislation, its implementation still faces obstacles, especially regarding the effective participation of the school community and the overcoming of authoritarian practices. It is observed that participatory mechanisms strengthen the democratic process, but require greater collective engagement. It is concluded that democratic management is configured as a continuous process of construction, dependent on collective commitment, participatory leadership, and the appreciation of dialogue in the school environment, contributing to the improvement of educational quality and to the civic formation of students, strengthening inclusive and socially committed practices in public schools.