Reshaping European Union development policy: collective choices and the new global order

Abstract The European Union (EU) is one of the world´s leading donors in official development assistance (ODA) to give a strong weight in the relationship with recipient partner countries, in particular with those that are more dependent on it. Besides the material weight of its funding, the EU has retained historical ties and influence in diplomatic, political and economic terms in many of its ODA recipient partner countries (particular in Sub-Saharan Africa). Since the 2000s, the EU development policy has not only undergone major structural changes in its institutional framework but also has started to face a new international aid scenario. This paper explores why a normative-based EU development policy is being challenged by reformed EU institutions and a new global order, and how the EU is attempting to respond to this context in face of the deepest recession since the end of the Second World War.

Federalism and health policy: the intergovernmental committees in Brazil

OBJECTIVE To analyze the dynamics of operation of the Bipartite Committees in health care in the Brazilian states.METHODS The research included visits to 24 states, direct observation, document analysis, and performance of semi-structured interviews with state and local leaders. The characterization of each committee was performed between 2007 and 2010, and four dimensions were considered: (i) level of institutionality, classified as advanced, intermediate, or incipient; (ii) agenda of intergovernmental negotiations, classified as diversified/restricted, adapted/not adapted to the reality of each state, and shared/unshared between the state and municipalities; (iii) political processes, considering the character and scope of intergovernmental relations; and (iv) capacity of operation, assessed as high, moderate, or low.RESULTS Ten committees had advanced level of institutionality. The agenda of the negotiations was diversified in all states, and most of them were adapted to the state reality. However, one-third of the committees showed power inequalities between the government levels. Cooperative and interactive intergovernmental relations predominated in 54.0% of the states. The level of institutionality, scope of negotiations, and political processes influenced Bipartite Committees’ ability to formulate policies and coordinate health care at the federal level. Bipartite Committees with a high capacity of operation predominated in the South and Southeast regions, while those with a low capacity of operations predominated in the North and Northeast.CONCLUSIONS The regional differences in operation among Bipartite Interagency Committees suggest the influence of historical-structural variables (socioeconomic development, geographic barriers, characteristics of the health care system) in their capacity of intergovernmental health care management. However, structural problems can be overcome in some states through institutional and political changes. The creation of federal investments, varied by regions and states, is critical in overcoming the structural inequalities that affect political institutions. The operation of Bipartite Committees is a step forward; however, strengthening their ability to coordinate health care is crucial in the regional organization of the health care system in the Brazilian states.

O social no governo Lula: a construção de um novo populismo em tempos de aplicação de uma agenda neoliberal

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the main characteristics of new Lula's government support. The paper's hypothesis concentrates in the idea of starting a different political approach, "a new populism". The paper argues that Lula's government to keep in power, beyond of going on with the neoliberal project - unfinished in the last years of FHC government -, needs to build up a solid and trustful political support, which is being done by implementing income transfer programs directed to poor people and the ones with less organization experience. This paper also calls the attention to Lula's government nature, in order to clarify the difficulties which should be dealt and the tasks to be developed in building up a political party that defends workers emancipation and Brazilians exploited.

Quinze anos de rigidez monetária no Brasil pós-Plano Real: uma agenda de pesquisa

Fifteen years of monetary rigidity in Brazil after the Real Plan: a research agenda.The paper makes a review of literature and a research agenda on the anomaly of Brazilian monetary policy. Following a retrospect of the first 15 years after the Real Plan, there is a review of studies aiming to explain the high real interest rate. None of the summarized theses can completely explain the phenomenon. The main research opportunities are: deepening of empirical evidence of monetary policy efficacy loss; improvement in mensuration of its inefficacy; and improvement of alternative instruments to control inflation. The field of political economy is also fertile. One should assess the relevance of oligopolies as an explaining factor of persistence of high inflation.

Gênese e agenda do novo desenvolvimentismo brasileiro

The debate regarding Brazil's development model returned again to the public arena in the first decade of 21st century after two decades of orthodox economic policies which encouraged non-developed countries to adopt liberal economic policies as their preferred growth strategies. As Brazil achieved neither economic stability nor development, the discussion of new development strategies returned as a popular research topic. It is in this context that a new development theory - New Developmentalism - emerges. The objective of this article is to review the origins of this debate and the main propositions defended by the group aiming to implement a new development model policy in the country. The main conclusions are that this group has had an important contribution in maintaining the development debate in the public agenda as well as proposing a new theoretical approach called "structuralist macroeconomic development".

Profits and votes: Entrepreneurs and the government in Brazilian housing policy

ABSTRACTAfter more than twenty years of low housing construction output, the housing policy recovered its momentum in the country with the ascent of the Partido dos Trabalhadores (Workers' Party, PT) to the seat of the federal government. This article demonstrates - through the analysis of documents, interviews and research conducted with businessmen - that the impetus of such a state policy is a part of the PT electoral strategy, which is based on economic growth and the expansion of social programs. The research analyses the dovetailing of interests between the Lula (the Brazilian President from 2003 to 2010) administration and the civil construction business - the latter concerned with expanding its business, and the former with increasing the supply of jobs and the level of economic activity. This process culminated in the launching of the largest social housing program to be implemented in the country. Minha Casa, Minha Vida (My House, My Life), is a project in whose planning building companies played a key role, performing feasibility studies and carrying out social housing projects.

A agenda internacional depois da Guerra Fria: novos temas e novas percepções

A idéia central do artigo é que o fim da Guerra Fria no final da década de 1980 não deve ser interpretado como um episódio e sim como parte de um amplo processo de mudança. A partir desta idéia, tenta-se demonstrar, por meio de visões expressas em várias obras e artigos, que o processo que levaria ao fim da Guerra Fria já estava em andamento quase duas décadas antes de 1989. Na parte final, propõe-se a lógica da ação coletiva de Olson e o descompasso no desenvolvimento das regiões como instrumentais teóricos para compreender o caráter eminentemente instável da ordem internacional. A conclusão é que a complexa agenda internacional da realidade contemporânea não é muito diferente da que predominava na última década da Guerra Fria, mas a forma como as questões são percebidas e encaminhadas se modificou substancialmente.

Ética e relações internacionais: elementos de uma agenda político-cultural

As relações internacionais passaram a refletir, em ritmo crescente, a partir dos anos 1990, a exigência de moralização do espaço público. O tema da ética, já presente na agenda política interna, é incorporado no programa de ação dos organismos multilaterais e cobrado cada vez mais intensamente dos agentes políticos. Nos campos interno como externo a agenda ética contemporânea articula-se sobretudo em torno dos direitos humanos, como pauta de valores comportamentais válida de igual forma para indivíduos e coletividades, inclusive as politicamente institucionalizadas. Disso dão exemplo a política interna e externa brasileira, a tendência organizacional dos blocos regionais, como a União Européia, e a "cláusula social" tornada indispensável às relações econômicas, comerciais e financeiras.

Antecipando o futuro: a agenda política para a governança econômica global

Este artigo analisa a agenda política para a governança econômica global para os próximos cinqüenta anos. Segundo o autor, o grande crescimento populacional proveniente dos países pobres induzirá uma maior participação desses países na tomada de decisão no âmbito internacional, fomentando a troca de informações e experiências entre os países ricos e pobres. Por fim, há uma breve explanação de outras razões pelas quais os países emergentes deveriam ter maior voz na governança econômica global.

As relações Colômbia, países vizinhos e Estados Unidos: visões em torno da agenda de segurança

Este artigo trabalha a tese de que a agenda de segurança dos EUA para Colômbia, que adquire expressão concreta em mecanismos como o Plano Colômbia e a Iniciativa Regional Andina, continuará sendo o eixo central da política de segurança na região sul-americana. No entanto, a noção de segurança que têm em mente os decisions makers dos EUA no caso colombiano reflete uma visão nas percepções de ameaças na que se misturam fortemente elementos novos ("as novas ameaças"), como o tráfico de drogas e fatores clássicos.

A nova agenda internacional de segurança põe a democracia brasileira em risco?

Agenda Internacional de Segurança mudou após o fim da Guerra Fria. Surgiram novas ameaças, frequentemente domésticas, que vão de encontro às tradicionais teorias de segurança. Este artigo analisa documentos oficiais produzidos por atores nacionais e internacionais. É possível concluir que existem incentivos políticos e jurídicos para a participação de militares em atividades policiais. Essa participação, contudo, pode apresentar riscos para a democracia.

Going Global: an organizational study of Brazilian foreign policy

This study analyzes the impact of globalisation on the organization and strategies outlined by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The study intends to understand how countries from the periphery deal with new institutional challenges resulting from globalization, using the case of the Brazilian diplomatic service.

Cuba após a Guerra Fria: mudanças econômicas, nova agenda diplomática e o limitado diálogo com os EUA

Cuba passou por muitas transformações após a Guerra Fria. A economia está mais diversificada e o país logrou escapar do isolamento internacional, estabelecendo parcerias com China, União Européia e América Latina. Além disso, a transformação na comunidade cubano-americana coloca em posições de influência ativistas mais jovens, com maior disposição para o diálogo com os Estados Unidos, inclusive em temas comerciais. Contudo, é difícil que as negociações avancem em pontos controversos, pela relutância de Havana em liberalizar o regime político.