Participation and “Social” Management in Public Policies Confronting Covid-19 in Brazilian Capitals

Abstract

In the perceptive of problematizing citizen participation in the process of co-creation of public policies within the pandemic context in Brazil, due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, the research seeks to identify the presence of civil society within the public health policies with the committees/crisis commissions in Brazilian capitals and the Federal District. For this, the documental research gathered 27 decrees, which were analyzed considering pre-analysis, exploration of the material and treatment of the results composed of inferences and interpretations. With the analysis of the decrees it was possible to evidence that all Brazilian capitals have established a committee, or health crisis emergency center. Regarding the plurality of the committees considering the inclusion of civil society, it was found that only Porto Alegre, Macapá, Porto Velho, João Pessoa, Teresina, Rio Branco and Goiânia included civil society in their composition, only Macapá included civil society without reservations, while the other capitals highlighted that civil society could be invited. The committees are composed predominantly of members of the productive and business sectors, with incipient representation of the popular and social segments. The analysis of the crisis committees in particular represents the necessary example for reflection on social participation in public policy agendas. While the study presents arguments in favor of participation, beyond the constitutional prerogative, this research may give rise to new analyses in other political contexts.