Is it possible for the indigenous people of Brazil to participate in the construction of public policies, even though there is discrimination against them?

• Sady Sidney Fauth Junior

  Flacso Brasil

The Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil of 1988 presents new mechanisms that complement the indirect representation, based on the direct and participatory democratic exercise.
Due to the great participation of social movements in democratization processes, especially in the countries of Latin America, the problem of the relationship between representation and cultural and social diversity has created a new form of relationship between state and society.
In this sense, the way in which this 1st National Conference of Indigenous Politics was conducted sought to put into practice the overcoming of colonial values for the reaffirmation of a relationship of respect for diversity with respect to indigenous peoples. It was a question of enabling differentiated formats of dialogues that effectively allowed for the reflection and the forwarding of suggestions for the best relationship between the State and indigenous peoples, considering the point of view of the natives themselves - a practical and concrete example of respect for the ethnic diversity of every people.
The conferences and other means of social participation influence the establishment of public policies, and the Brazilian Government believes that opening the debate to civil society is the most democratic way of conducting a nation.

1. Sady Sidney Fauth Junior, Flacso Brasil

   Consultor de FLACSO Brasil, Maestrando en Derechos Humanos en la Universidad Nacional de Lanús, Especialista en Democracia Participativa, República y Movimientos Sociales en la Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) y Especialista en Gestión Pública en la Universidade Estadual de Goiás (UEG).

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