The link between participatory democracy and political influence of civil society - A comparative study of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay

There has been turn to left political power in Latin America during the last decade. Cicvil society and radical activists rather prefer to work politically to change the society than taking up guns in a revolutionary attempt. Our hypthesis is that this ch ange came about since participatory budgeting and planning at the local level proved that it was possible to have real influence through less violent channels. With experience, the civil society got better organised adn coordinated at national level, taki ng power in Brazil, Bolivia and now Paraguay. We will make a comparative study between the three countries, in a collaboration between norwegian researchers and local researchers.