Between Liberal and Participatory Democracy:: Tensions and Dilemmas of Leftist Politics in Brazil

• Günther Schönleitner ^[1]
  1. [1] London School of Economics and Political Science

     London School of Economics and Political Science

     Reino Unido

     
• Localización: Journal of Latin American Studies, ISSN 0022-216X, ISSN-e 1469-767X, Vol. 38, Nº. 1, 2006, págs. 35-63
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022216X05000283
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Brazil's left, especially the Workers' Party (PT), largely views civil society participation as a means of correcting the shortcomings of liberal democracy, and to break clientelistic politics. This article questions the underlying assumptions that civil society is inherently a pro-democratic force and that participatory arrangements enjoy sufficient autonomy from local power dynamics to democratise state action. Effective participation requires a positive interplay between government commitment, civic virtues, and supportive institutional design. Participatory democracy presupposes a well-functioning representative democracy rather than curing its ills. The article compares four municipal health councils in towns with varying combinations of government commitment and civicness, which highlights a complex interaction of political, civic, and institutional factors that shaped deliberative participation.

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