Brazil's democracy has frequently been described as unconsolidated,
its citizens as apathetic and uninterested in politics. But in
Porto Alegre, a host city to the World Social Forum, thousands of
ordinary citizens participate in local governance, making binding
decisions on urban policy on a daily basis. While there has been
immense attention paid to the practice of participatory democracy
in Porto Alegre, this is the first book to examine the politics,
culture, and day-to-day activities of its citizens. Drawing on the
rich tradition of urban ethnography and political theory, the book
argues that Porto Alegre's importance may lie not just with its
effective governance, but with its new political logic, namely a
greater access to government functions and government officials for
traditionally disenfranchised citizens. In an age characterized by
seemingly strong voter apathy, this study has global implications.
The author shows that in the discussions on the failings of
democracy in industrialized countries like the United States, most
people may be missing what is central to civic engagement -
unimpeded access to government.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!