Political inequality and extra-parliamentary representation

• Grant number: 14/26215-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - State and Government
• Principal Investigator: Marta Teresa da Silva Arretche
• Grantee: Ariana Gomes Monteiro Alves
• Host Institution: Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento (CEBRAP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07616-7 - CEM - Center for Metropolitan Studies, AP.CEPID

Abstract

This research project will focus on the municipal councils, particularly in social policy areas. These are by far the most widespread "institutional innovation" for extra-parliamentary representation - currently there are more than 30 thousand institutionalized municipal councils in areas like health-care, education, and welfare provision in Brazil. There is an increasing but still insufficient body of systematic evidence on the effects of such experiences on policy outcomes. Furthermore there are hardly any systematic account of the decisions the councils actually make. Other question that has seldom been explored is the role of those councils to reduce political inequality in the decision-making process on social policies at municipal level. The main objective of this research project is to tackle this gap in the literature. More specifically it aims at answering four questions on the role of municipal councils: (I) what do municipal councils make decisions about? (II) are the decisions made at municipal councils likely to reduce political inequality by giving voice to underrepresented interests? (III) are there patterns within and between municipalities? (IV) are the patterns (within and between) municipalities related to the conditions posited by literature as conducive to higher effectiveness of PIs?