8 - Re-examining State–Society Relations in the Twenty-First Century

Summary

The concluding chapter to this book further explores the broad theoretical implications of this Brazil-focused study for our approach to understanding state-society relations in Latin America. First, I show how the case explored in the book offers new insight into the broader effects of democratization and neoliberal reform on state-society relations. In contrast to the view from traditional approaches that highlight the demise of corporatism, I argue that corporatism did not disappear but instead shifted—to different sectors of the state, and to different segments of society. Second, and by extension, I introduce a new model of state-society relations, what I call civic corporatism. Third, I explore broader questions related to the role of NGOs in international development. Fourth, I provide a series of case studies beyond Brazilian AIDS policy to explore the generalizability of the argument. I conclude by offering a broad new perspective on the relationship between democracy and the state.