Sociedade, estado e administração pública: análise da configuração institucional dos conselhos gestores do município de Lavras - MG

Abstract

The Federal Constitution of 1988 highlighted the management councils as resources vital to the sedimentation of the principles of decentralization and participation in the systems of public policies. Working in the three federation levels, they account for the largest network of socio-political interaction already observed in Brazil. Relationships promoted by them are not common events. They are mediated by rules and present social, political and managerial consequences. The councils represent forums invested of power, dealing with decisions and actions that affect whole communities. Precisely because of this, their processes operate to consolidate democratic relationships, in different degrees, between society and State. In other words, they contribute to the development of specific modalities of democracy and local public administration. In according with the participatory ideal, it is necessary to balance the relationships between citizens and governments. From the perspective of the paradigms of democracy and public administration, this means to promote deliberative and societal forms. Starting from these considerations, it was searched, in this thesis, to understand the role of councils in the development of two principles of societal administration: the politic-institutional reinvention and participative-deliberative democracy. After the observation of formal, deliberative and inter-institutional dimensions from twelve councils in the town of Lavras, MG, it was concluded that these are consistent sources of political and institutional innovation. Structural and managerial aspects ensure that condition. However, its efficacy is limited with relation to the sedimentation of the local deliberative democracy. Deficits of information, the social non-association, the fragile connection between representatives and the represented and the government opportunism work for this. However, the longitudinal analysis undertaken recorded the formal and substantive improvement of the councils over the years. In addition, their singular role in social control and the integration of actors in local systems of public policy reinforces the perception that they are - and will increasingly be - relevant in combating the historical bias that permeate the civic and political culture of Brazil.