Paternalism or participatory governance? Efforts and obstacles in implementing the Brazilian water policy in a large watershed

摘要: Abstract In many countries, governmental systems and their areas still mirror vanished historical logics rather than contemporary active citizenship based on environmental units. The Brazilian Water Act from 1997 institutionalizes the watershed as planning unit creation of participatory committees. What is state this radical shift in governance? Will notorious system alliances among powerful actors again impede participation broader public? How are social dealing with role committee members? We establish our reasoning literature, documents published by a selected committee, observations while attending plenary session, carrying out key person interviews survey members. Constellation analysis has been used to visualize complex governance setting. Sao Francisco River challenging case, its comprises very large, heterogeneous and, about half it, semiarid area. Sixty-two voluntary members govern area 16.6 million inhabitants. established multi-level (municipal, state, regional federal scale) co-exists—external internal frictions unavoidable. So far, it appears that agencies not yet ready share responsibility. themselves process learning doing. If really wanted—in study similarly others world—then both line organizations need build up more trust should champion for common goal. Nonetheless, controversies allocation management scarce water resources will continue be tough challenge various actors.