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About this book
William Nylen begins by discussing North Americans' love-hate relationship with politics and politicians, then shows how Brazilians feel the same way (as do many citizens of democracies throughout the world). He argues that this is so because contemporary democracies have increasingly trickled up and away from so-called 'average citizens'. We now live in a world of 'Elitist Democracies' essentially constructed of, by and for moneyed, well-connected and ethically-challenged elites. Fortunately, there are alternatives, and that's where Brazil offers valuable lessons. Experiments in local-level participatory democracy, put into practice in Brazil by the Workers Party show both the promise and the practical limitations of efforts to promote 'popular participation' and citizen empowerment.
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Table of contents
- Cover
- Table of Contents
- Preface and Acknowledgments
- Foreword
- Chapter 1 Elitist Democracy, Civic Disengagement, and Citizen Politics in the United States
- Chapter 2 Elitist Democracy, Civic Disengagement, and Citizen Politics in Brazil
- Chapter 3 Participatory Democracy in Theory
- Chapter 4 Participatory Democracy in PracticeâBrazilâs Workersâ Party and the Participatory Budget
- Chapter 5 The Orçamento Participativo in Betim, Minas Gerais
- Chapter 6 Examining the Claims of Proponents of the Participatory Budget
- Chapter 7 Examining the Claims of Critics of the Participatory Budget
- Chapter 8 Administering the Participatory BudgetâIdeology and Dedication
- Conclusion: Participatory Democracy versus Elitist DemocracyâLessons from Brazil
- Notes
- Annex 1 Questionnaire for Delegates and Councilors of the Participatory Budget, 1998
- Annex 2 Characteristics of 1998 OP Delegates (Respondents) in Betim and Belo Horizonte
- Bibliography
- Index