Post liberal State reform : the emerging paradigm and the brazilian experience

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze the recent experience of state reform in Brazil in light of the emergence of a new paradigm of institutional transformation. The text is structured in two parts. The first part is essentially conceptual and intends to elaborate two paradigms of institutional transformation in contemporary society. The first one is a state reform paradigm, dominant in the reference literature and in the international paradigmatic experiences. The second one is an emerging paradigm of institutional transformation placed in the perspective of society's institutional re-ordering as a whole, which accounts for wider normative issues and for the undesirable effects of the dominant paradigm.

The second part explores two issues concerning the Brazilian case. I argue that the dominant paradigm is limited to analyze and lay down strategies of institutional development, given the historical and structural peculiarities of the Brazilian state. However, the recent Brazilian state reform experience is an example of dominant paradigm implementation. I try to characterize this implementation and to highlight its limitations. I also pull out some final remarks on the Brazilian state reform experience, its challenges and risks.