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Civil society organizations and advocacy: A comparative study between Brazil and the United States

Civil Society in Comparative Perspective

ISBN: 978-1-84950-607-6, eISBN: 978-1-84950-608-3

Publication date: 16 November 2009

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to compare the advocacy role of civil society organizations in the United States and Brazil. We conducted an exploratory case study of three peak organizations that engage in public policy advocacy as part of their strategies. We analyze how they advocate and the role this form of action plays within different democratic contexts that assume public discussion and deliberation, by citizens, about matters relevant to them, such as the formulation, execution, and monitoring of public policy. The study concludes that the policy advocacy role of civil society organizations strengthens internal and external democratic processes by bringing for the deliberation process in the public sphere organizations that represent different groups in society. However, this process also poses some risks and challenges that shall be taken into consideration.

Citation

de Brelàz, G. and Aquino Alves, M. (2009), "Civil society organizations and advocacy: A comparative study between Brazil and the United States", Enjolras, B. and Henrik Sivesind, K. (Ed.) Civil Society in Comparative Perspective (Comparative Social Research, Vol. 26), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 137-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0195-6310(2009)0000026010

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited