Private Investigations by Jean Barrett

Private Investigations by Jean Barrett

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.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780373226528
ISBN 10	0373226527
Title	Private Investigations
Author	Jean Barrett
Series	Intrigue S
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers
Year published	2003-03-21
Number of pages	251
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.