Political Governance in the Paraguaçu River Basin Committee

Abstract

This study is part of the results of the Territorial Governance research in Brazil: institutional specificities, spatial logic and development policies, in the states: Bahia, Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Its main objectives are to identify and analyze the political processes, of building hegemonic and counter-hegemonic socio-political agreements, in the Paraguaçu River Basin Committee. Questioning the existence and the conformations of the power networks in these Committees, based on the thought of the Italian philosopher Antônio Gramsci. The research took as a priority a qualitative approach, without, however, disregarding the quantitative data. The main sources used were: documents, interviews, observations at Committee meetings. Content analysis was used with categorization of expressions and situations that appeared in a more relevant way and that answered the questions contained in the research objectives. The study aimed at the Paraguaçu River Basin Committee, pointing out the following conclusive elements: presence of a dominant, hegemonic block, composed of water users; inexistence of a counter hegemonic bloc, capable of opposing the dominant bloc; presence of isolated forces (composed of representatives of civil society) and with a fragile articulation, managing at times to go to the political clash and dispute positions, but with timid victories. With the results of this study, it is possible to deepen the debate about the economic commitments and political pacts established between the State, civil society and users that set the tone for governance in the Paraguaçu River Basin Committee.