Governança, um novo paradigma de gestão? Sobre a Conferência de Pierre Calame

Abstract

This paper presents a critical analysis of the seminar given in may 2001 by Pierre Caíame at USP Post-Graduation Program of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, based on his book “L’état au coeur” co-written with André Talmant and recently launched in Brazil. Pierre Caíame is the president of the Fondation Charles Leopold Mayer pour le Progrès de l’Homme. The book deals with the theme of urban governance, particularising the case of France. According to Caíame, governance implies the need for a reorganization of state operation and management mechanisms when faced by the new paradigms posed by the post-fordism transformations of society. These new dynamics impose the creation of new co-responsibility spheres for all social actors concerned with the control of society's destiny. In spite of the “universal” and international aspect that Caíame wants to express in his ideas, this text is a reflection about the efficacy of their transposition for the specific reality of Brazil with its particularly unequal social structure and where the State is the historical instrument of the dominant classes’ hegemony. However, his reflection also tries to draw on the positive aspects of the ideas discussed, which may be useful for those heading popular governments in Brazil, and for those who must “deal with” a corrupt and eroded state