Poder local, democracia e participação popular : implantação e desenvolvimento da experiência do orçamento participativo no Município de Maringá (2001-2004)

Abstract

The objective of this work was thinking the participation of civil society organizations in contemporary politics, highlighting ways and ideological representative who attended the Participatory Budget process of Maringá, occurred between the years 2001 to 2004. Investigated how the experience of the Participatory Budget contributes to the democratization of relations between the authorities and the local population. It was a kind of empirical research - that theoretical methodology adopted as the case study as procedures, and describes the recorded sequences of events that circundaram this policy of the municipal executive for the people, working with documentary sources and oral interviews held with authorities and citizens who participated in the processo The analysis shows that habits and customs commonly practiced in the national political scene, are also reproduced in the local polítical climate. Features embedded in the Brazilian political culture such as practices of patronage and the umbrella policy practiced with the population, also figured in Maringá. Even with the attempt of the local authorities to encourage popular participation in politics, the old way of doing politics and the vision apathetic society in relation to the political environment remains.