Challenges of participatory budgeting

a study in Brazil (Araraquara-SP ) and Portugal (Cascais)

Abstract

The diffusion and proliferation of the Participatory Budget (OP) by different countries and continents in the world have posed several challenges related to democratic governance, such as the sharing of political power; the encouragement of political inclusion; and social and institutional learning. Therefore, this work aims at analyzing two different cases of OPs – in Araraquara-SP (Brazil) and in Cascais (Portugal) – noting the extent to which they are facing these and other challenges from dimensions such as decision-making competence, resources, institutional rules, space for participation, the use of digital technologies, the number and profile of participants, measures aimed at learning, and their insertion in a broader system of participation. The differences found between the two cases are related to the respective political and social contexts and to the different trajectories and purposes of the OPs in the two countries.