Over the past twenty years, Brazil has evolved from a military-dominated (1964-1984), autocratic state into a modern competitive democracy. However, political parties remain weak and lack discipline, as it is common for politicians to frequently change party affiliation. Despite the presence of approximately twenty political parties in the federal Congress, many are actually "movements" centered around a key figure, rather than political parties with a solid following from election to election.
Past NDI Activities
Participatory Budgets
NDI began working in Brazil in 1986 when NDI and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany responded to requests from leaders of Brazil’s National Congress to conduct a program on legislative oversight of the budget process.
The 1986 Congress was charged with drafting a new constitution that was eventually adopted in late 1988. The NDI and SUNY program was conducted in collaboration with the Pedrose Hora Foundation (PMDB) and the Tancredo Neves Institute (PFL), and helped legislators develop a constitutional structure for the adoption of federal budgets.
In May 2000, NDI brought representatives from Mozambican civic groups to Brazil to study civic participation and municipal government structures. In Porto Alegre, the delegation attended a Participatory Budget Council session where citizen delegates debated the 2000 budget and voted for budget priorities. In Fortaleza, the Mozambican delegation studied examples of public-partnership cooperation both at the municipal and state levels, including a citizen's forum created by entrepreneurs. A national seminar was conducted upon return to Mozambique at which participants shared experiences and examined ways to apply the lessons learned. NDI has also used Brazilian trainers for programs in Angola and Mozambique on constitutional development, constituent relations, local government, and political party building.
Regional Political Leadership Program
NDI launched the Political Leadership Program in 1999 to strengthen the leadership skills and ability of emerging political leaders to promote the modernization and renewal of political parties. In 2001, NDI included Brazilian parties in its regional Political Leadership Program.
Following a rigorous selection process, the one-year Political Leadership Program began with an intensive, two-week leadership development seminar in Washington, D.C. and continued in-country with the young leaders implementing concrete party-strengthening projects and exposing their colleagues to practical leadership techniques. Through this program, NDI worked with young leaders from the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB); Brazilian Worker’s Party (PT); Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB); the Liberal Front Party (PFL); and the Brazilian Progressive Party (PPB). During 2001, participants implemented party-strengthening projects in youth outreach, municipal government reform and political reform.
Contact Information
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