National Health Conferences and Participatory Processes in the Brazilian Federal Public Administration

Abstract

This case study looks at the National Health Conferences as institutionalized spaces for social participation that contribute for the emergence of patterns of governance based on more active citizenship. This case study aims to support the debate about the emergence of new patterns of relationship between State and society, and the concepts of resilience in Non-Governmental Organizations and Public Institutions. This case discusses the new challenges for public managers taking into account the process of social participation and the diversity of actors, besides greater specificity of demands, which generates greater difficulty in obtaining consensus and establishing priorities. The case may be applied in courses on social participation, social networks, governance, democracy and public policy.