Democratization and Changes in the Pattern of Association in Brazil

This article aims to introduce the societal variable into the debate between delegative democracy and democratic consolidation in Latin America. It presents the results of empirical research on voluntary associations in Brazil showing that there has been a significant process of renewal at the civic level in the country. Also that the potential of this movement has not been adequately incorporated by either of the two major theories of Latin American democratization. In addition the article considers existing literature on the relationship between associations and democracy that suggests that Latin America lacks a propensity for association. This is followed by a discussion of the associative drive in Brazil showing that it has not been adequately subsumed either by theories of democratization or by theories which emphasize the Iberian cultural tradition. Brazilian society has an emerging strong drive for autonomy at the civic level and democratic practices at the societal level thus proposing an alternative to the existing debate between the supporters of consolidation and delegation.