Abstract Brazilian municipalities simultaneously function as local administrative units, service providers, electoral districts, and the primary units for aggregating statistical, fiscal, and demographic data. Although their heterogeneity is widely acknowledged, the underlying structure of this heterogeneity is rarely examined. In this article, we argue that this heterogeneity should be understood as discrete, rather than as continuous variations of a single territorial form, and we propose a typology to explore these differences. The typology is derived from cluster analysis of Brazilian […]

Abstract The recent concern with the crisis of democracy has overshadowed interest among political scientists in the study of democratization processes that unfolded during the nineteenth century. ‘The Birth of Democracy in South America’ revisits and advances the discussion of this period, with particular attention to Latin America. Drawing on extensive research based on primary sources, the book breaks new ground by combining distinct explanatory approaches centered on military strength and political competition. Taken together, these contributions renew debates about […]

Abstract Although research on gender inequality in political representation often focuses on issues such as institutional constraints, the role of political parties, campaign costs, or shortcomings in the design of gender quotas, fewer studies examine women’s political careers directly. This article analyzes women’s political careers beginning at the city council level, the most accessible and available elected office in the Brazilian political system. To do so, we conduct a long-term analysis (2002–2020) of the prior and subsequent electoral trajectories of […]

Abstract The objective of this article is to examine the participation of union actors in the legislative decision-making process related to the social security reform enacted under the Bolsonaro administration (2019–2022), with particular attention to the role of the trade union caucus – comprising both deputies and senators – in the legislative consideration of Constitutional Amendment Bill N° 06 of 2019 (PEC 06/2019). The central research question guiding the study was: how did the union caucus act to defend workers’ […]

Abstract In 2020, according to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), women saw an increase in their participation in the electoral race for municipal legislatures. Similarly, the number of self-declared Black candidates also rose. Yet despite higher participation among both groups, and even with the support of affirmative action policies in that election cycle, we still observe a persistent pattern of underrepresentation of Black women. Existing scholarship shows that several variables shape the electoral participation of minoritized groups. Drawing […]

Abstract This article provides a review on the main arguments of the book ‘Urban Power: Democracy and Inequality in São Paulo and Johannesburg’ by Ben Bradlow, aiming to situate it in a broader contemporary discussion in the Urban Studies literature. Drawing from the premise that urban inequalities in informal settlements are the greatest challenge facing local governments today, the author asks why some cities are more effective than others at reducing inequalities in the built environment. By comparing changes in […]

Abstract This article analyzes the distinctive features of the Center of Government (CoG) under President Jair Bolsonaro, using the framework developed by Cavalcante and Batista (2018). The CoG encompasses a set of units, whether formally or informally linked to the presidential hierarchy, whose primary role is to support presidential decision-making. Our analysis draws on federal legislation that structures the Executive Branch and on Bolsonaro’s official daily schedule to trace interaction patterns and decision-making dynamics within the CoG. The findings show […]

Abstract This work reviews and discusses research approaches related to climate change and water resources, an essential area for the conservation of life and the environment. According to the global state of the art, there is an urgent need to expand sectoral statistical analyses of the impacts of climate change on water resources, especially in Brazil. A bibliometric method was applied, adopting a quantitative analytical approach. Active Learning Methodologies were also used, combining Artificial Intelligence for filtering with researcher analysis […]

Abstract In this paper, we analyze the dynamics of policy advisory systems and the use of policy knowledge in contexts characterized by weak institutionalization and limited influence from Anglo-American models of policy advice, such as Brazil. We synthesize findings from a large research project carried out between 2019 and 2024, which combined two large-N surveys of Brazilian federal bureaucrats (conducted in 2019 and 2021) with six case studies across diverse policy areas. We examined the selected cases – spanning health, […]