Search

The objective of the paper is to analyze the determinants of social policies in Brazilian states. More specifically, it examines public spending in the areas of health and education and explores the possible causes of observed changes in the long run. The theoretical motivation for the paper is based on a literature review that affirms that, at the state level, the executive is unchecked within the political system and that, in addition, the rationale for the creation of public policies is, above all, linked to the individual objectives of the governor. Meanwhile, based on our findings, we discarded invalid hypotheses regarding the non-existence of any positive effect of the ideology of the governor on the level of social spending and regarding the absence of any negative impact of the number of commissions, even in governments controlled by the left, on this spending. [TRANSLATION]

ObjectiveThe present paper analyses the advances and challenges of the school feeding programme in Brazil (PNAE), as part of the Brazilian experience building up an integrated food and nutrition security national system. It explores the role of policy and regulatory frameworks in constructing quality service delivery and intersectoral integration.DesignReview of PNAE and federal government technical documents and studies, legislation, minutes of meetings and official documents of the National Council of Food and Nutrition Security from 2003 to 2011.SettingFood insecurity has decreased significantly in Brazil in the last decade, indicating that appropriate choices were made in terms of public policies and institutional arrangements, which other countries can learn from.SubjectsBrazil food and nutrition security system; school feeding; school food.ResultsBrazil's integrated food and nutrition security policy approach promoted intersectorality in the food system, articulating actions to guarantee access to healthy food and to strengthen family farming. The quality of school meals has progressively improved; in particular, the availability of fruits and vegetables increased. However, national standards regarding menu composition have not yet been met. Regulations were an important factor, along with the policy approach linking food production, nutrition, health and education. Challenges are related to conflict of interests and to farmers’ insufficient capacity to meet supply requirements and comply with technical procedures.ConclusionsLocal food production, school meals and nutrition education can be linked through integrated programmes and policies, improving access to healthier foods. Government leadership, strong legislation, civil society participation and intersectoral decision making are determinant. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper investigates how students at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), one of the first Brazilian universities to adopt race-based quotas for admissions, interpret racial categories used as eligibility criteria. Considering the perspectives of students is important to understand the workings of affirmative action policies because UERJ's quotas require applicants to classify themselves. Students' interpretations of those categories often diverge from the interpretations intended by people who shaped the policy. Students' perspectives are formed by everyday experiences with categorisation and by their self-assessment as legitimate beneficiaries of quotas. In contrast, the policies were designed according to a new racial project, where black consciousness-raising and statistics played an important role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]