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Social Inclusion through Participation: the Case of the Participatory Budget in São Paulo

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  • ESTHER HERNÁNDEZ‐MEDINA

Abstract

One of the largest urban centers in the world, the Brazilian city of São Paulo is characterized by high levels of socio‐economic inequality and political polarization, significantly complicating issues of urban governance. Despite being designed to partially address these problems, São Paulo's participatory budget (PB) was bounded by its urban context, institutional design and the relative strength of the political actors involved. The article analyzes a mechanism created within the PB to incorporate historically disadvantaged groups, or ‘socially vulnerable segments’, during the Workers' Party administration of 2001–04. The segments methodology constitutes an intriguing example of how affirmative action can be used to improve decision‐making processes and address social exclusion in urban contexts. In particular, the segments served as a ‘counterpublic’ within the PB, helping activists representing the segments to develop strategies influencing the city's urban and social policy. Résumé L’un des plus grands centres urbains du monde, São Paulo au Brésil, se caractérise par des niveaux élevés d’inégalité socio‐économique et de polarisation politique, ce qui complique considérablement les enjeux de la gouvernance urbaine. Bien que conçu en partie pour traiter ces problèmes, le budget participatif appliquéà São Paulo était contraint par son contexte urbain, son modèle institutionnel et la puissance relative des acteurs politiques impliqués. L’article analyse un mécanisme créé au sein du système de budget participatif dans le but d’intégrer des groupes traditionnellement désavantagés, ou ‘segments socialement vulnérables’, pendant l’administration municipale du Parti des Travailleurs de 2001 à 2004. La méthodologie des segments constitue une illustration intéressante de la manière dont une action antidiscriminatoire peut servir à améliorer des processus de décision et intervenir sur l’exclusion sociale dans des contextes urbains. Les segments ont notamment agi en ‘contre‐public’ dans le budget participatif, aidant les militants qui représentaient les segments àélaborer des stratégies visant à influencer les politiques urbaines et sociales de la ville.

Suggested Citation

  • Esther Hernández‐Medina, 2010. "Social Inclusion through Participation: the Case of the Participatory Budget in São Paulo," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 512-532, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijurrs:v:34:y:2010:i:3:p:512-532
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2427.2010.00966.x
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