Democratic decision-making in oil royalties recipient municipalities: the experience of Rio das Ostras

Abstract

This dissertation aimed at providing the systematization of information in citizen participation in the government budget and Environmental Council of the City of Rio das Ostras, in order to evaluate the potential contributions of these instruments in the local budget management, in their elaboration and execution, and in the elaboration and execution of local environmental policies. Based on bibliographical and documentary surveys, this study begins by contextualizing democracy and its implications in contemporary society, and identifying the political scenario that has favored the restoration of citizen participation practices in the country. The core section of the dissertation presents an analysis of relevant referential documents used in municipal administrations which results in government adoption of participative management instruments and their consolidation. It also describes the results of the survey carried out within the process, contributing with a systematization of data related to the theme participation. The dissertation concludes with a summary of the relevant topics both from a scientific and personal perspective, proposing measures for the improvement and interrelation of participative budgeting and the Environmental Council of Rio das Ostras in order to promote accountability and social control.