Can I read Militants and citizens : the politics of participatory democracy in Porto Alegre on EtoBox?

Militants and citizens : the politics of participatory democracy in Porto Alegre by Baiocchi, Gianpaolo, 1971- is a book available to read on EtoBox.

What is Militants and citizens : the politics of participatory democracy in Porto Alegre about?

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.--Publisher description

Author

Baiocchi, Gianpaolo, 1971-

Publisher

Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press

Published

2004

Language

EN

ISBN

9780804751223

Subjects

Political Science, Anthropology, Science