Administrative Reforms in Brazil: A Theoretical and Critical Approach

Abstract

This theoretical essay seeks to contextualize the scenario of Administrative reforms, raising questions and reflecting on the topic, without pretending to exhaust its specifics and trends. As such, bibliographical survey was made on the basis of Brazilian cultural action system, its subsystems, outstanding features and the way they appear and influence the day-by-day. It is considered that the reform models must recognize the reality of the country where they will be adopted, evaluating its cultural elements and thus recognizing possible limitations of the model. When these limitations are recognized, new proposals are presented as alternatives capable of improving the functioning of the State. Considering the global and national historical context, this article aims also to present the current models and trends, in particular the currents of New Public Management on the one hand and, on the other hand, the New Public Service, which is based on citizen participation as a co-manager. It is therefore important to think about the contributions of each reform movement and also the philosophy of the New Public Service, according to which civil society is an agent in the process of co-management of the public service, understanding that, in this way, it is possible that the government can be exercised in a really democratic way.