Abstract in English:

In this study, we explore novel data concerning party affiliations within ministries to characterize political-party appointments in high and mid-level bureaucracy from 1999 to 2018. We argue that party cleavages within these organizations hold significant importance. To scrutinize the variance among ministries, we propose an index of intra-ministerial party fractionalization. By emphasizing the distinction between party politicization and fractionalization as separate dimensions that vary significantly among ministries, our argument underscores the importance of intra-ministerial party cleavages in understanding government dynamics and the relationship between federal Executive power and Legislative branches. Furthermore, we contend that paying attention to political-party divides within each ministry has been an overlooked dimension in the analyses of governmental processes and Brazilian coalition presidentialism. Nevertheless, it stands as a pivotal factor for success in navigating relations with the Legislature and identifying hurdles to effective governance of federal public policies.

Abstract in English:

This article looks into the explanatory dimensions of social services governance in São Paulo and Belo Horizonte. It considers the vertical axis of the interconnections between levels of government and the horizontal axis of interactions between state and non-state actors. We argue that it is necessary to advance in integrated explanations on how these multilevel interactions restructure local governance patterns over time in order to fill a gap in the literature on multilevel governance. Cases are compared based on the triangulation of methods: literature review, document analysis, and in-depth interviews. We argue that four dimensions are essential to understand the effect of the intersection between axes: 01. municipal political organization; 02. mobilization of policy communities; 03. civil society actors’ profile and work; 04. types of state capacities. Our case analysis reveals, in São Paulo, a pattern that is less constrained by federal rulemaking and more focused on conflicts between civil society organizations (CSOs) and bureaucratic actors, and highly dependent on local political dynamics and ways of building regulatory capacities. In Belo Horizonte, in turn, we observed a greater influence of federal rulemaking and greater weight of policy communities, which are constantly mobilized to build capacities for policy provision, and not only for the regulation of services.

Abstract in English:

In this study, we investigated judicial behavior during custody hearings in Brazil, a legal proceeding in which judges determine whether the arrested person should be kept in custody or released pending trial. Drawing on primary data obtained from hearings held between 2015 and 2016, our objective was to investigate the consistency of judges' decisions and discern whether these decisions were influenced by individual ideologies. We employed semi-structured interviews, which we contend to be a valuable research method, to evaluate the judges’ ideologies. Our findings revealed that the judge aligning with a punitivist stance in the interviews exhibited a tendency for issuing more pretrial detentions. Additionally, using two binomial regression models, we highlighted how these understandings serve as a factor that differentiates the decisions made by the two judges. Consequently, our findings confirm the hypothesis that ideology plays a pivotal role in comprehending the intricacies of the judicial decision-making process in Brazil.

Abstract in English:

This article delves into Environmental Politics studies, which has emerged as a burgeoning field within Political Science since the 1990s, aiming to explore the intersection of environmentalism and politics, with a particular focus on examining the roles of the State and environmental movements in shaping this dynamic. In this proposal, we revisit a portion of the existing literature to highlight three crucial dimensions in understanding these studies: Firstly, we explore how environmentalism has shaped environmental policy and certain political practices, with a particular emphasis on the State's influence in this process. Secondly, we analyze the role of environmental social movements, both within and outside the State's structures, examining the mechanisms through which they exert influence in these arenas and drive political and cultural changes. Finally, we discuss how the interactional dynamics among political actors engaged in environmentalism have spurred demands for greater democratization in environmental policies. By addressing these issues, we seek to demonstrate their interconnection and relevance for a comprehensive understanding of environmental politics.

Abstract in English:

The article examines the relationship between victimization, fear of crime, and democratic legitimacy in Latin America, considering both the causal mechanisms and contextual effects involved in this process. Fear of crime and victimization are regarded as distinct (yet interconnected) phenomena, each potentially operating through different causal mechanisms. Democratic legitimacy is understood from a multidimensional perspective. The hypotheses consider country-level contextual factors and are tested using multilevel analysis, based on data from the 2016 and 2018 Americas Barometer. The findings underscore the detrimental impacts of victimization and fear of crime on democratic legitimacy in Latin America, with a particular emphasis on the intensified negative effect of victimization in countries with high homicide rates.

Abstract in English:

Studies on patronage and politicization typically focus on the dilemma politicians face when recruiting public personnel. Politicians must choose between appointing loyal allies to implement policies or party members to garner political support. The term politicization typically emphasizes the political facet of the public bureaucracy. Through an integrative literature review, this paper aims to provide new insights into the concept of patronage and its relationship with the politicization of bureaucracy. The paper introduces findings from an intensive literature review of publications on patronage, bureaucracy, and politicization. A search was conducted for texts published between 2000 and 2022 on Scopus and Web of Science. Through a qualitative content analysis, 144 texts discussing the concept of patronage were read and coded to identify theories, frameworks, and measurement methods. The results indicate that the research literature tends to overly emphasize the role of political parties in the distribution of public offices. In contrast, this paper proposes a reconceptualization of patronage, highlighting the power of other stakeholders, such as interest organizations and social movements. It advances the research agenda by proposing a new typology that scholars might employ in comparative studies.