What explains institutional change in authoritarian regimes presiding over fragmented societies? A popular assumption is that, because the state is so powerful, major institutional change takes place only when certain actors within the state system see such change as beneficial for their personal or collective interests. In other words, institutional changes are necessarily top-down and elitist in nature. Challenging that position, this thesis articulates a theory of gradual institutional change in authoritarian regimes, arguing that authoritarian institutions, as distributional instruments laden with power implications, are likely to be unstable and ambiguous, allowing social actors to advance their personal or collective interests through gradual institutional modifications. As these resistances accumulate, the costs for state actors to maintain their increasingly ineffective institutions rise to an unsustainable level, incentivising them to revise their core practices—and, by extension, sometimes expand existing rights or extend new ones to their citizens. This argument is supported by a systematic examination of the Chinese state’s historic attempts to promote the use of a standardised language form—putonghua—and simplified Chinese characters on a national scale, and a range of popular resistance efforts against them. Drawing upon newly available archival materials, survey data, and in-depth interviews, I conduct process-tracing case studies of three successive language management regimes—namely, top-down (from the 1950s to 1980s), incentivising (from the 1990s to mid-2000s), and selective (from the mid-2000s), demonstrating how they were challenged and gradually modified by their subjects. From this position I argue that the deployment of official language policy in the PRC is determined endogenously by the ambiguities of existing language institutions as well as exogenously by levels of economic development and communication technology. The casual arguments are then evaluated in light of evidence from the history of language management in the former Soviet Union and Tawian.

Este trabalho avalia a implantação do PDE-Escola em duas instituições escolares no estado de Minas Gerais. O Programa, concebido de forma pouco representativa em sua elaboração macro, sugere uma maior representatividade em sua elaboração micro, mesmo com o MEC impondo um manual de implementação da política às escolas. É essa ambiguidade que motivou a presente pesquisa. Esse contexto cria um hiato de objetivos a serem investigados, tais como a incorporação por gestores e docentes das orientações de mais uma política verticalizada; a maneira em que esses grupos se relacionam na execução do Programa; e, por final, na constatação sobre como as demandas levantadas por diretores e professores na fase introdutória do Plano estão sendo materializadas nas escolas. As respostas a esses objetivos irão nos revelar o grau de incorporação das ideias do PDE-Escola, possibilitando a identificação dos ganhos e retrocessos da proposta governamental na ótica de seus protagonistas escolares. Para isso, duas escolas foram escolhidas, sendo que uma enfrentou a elaboração do PDE-Escola em sua forma clássica, com a metodologia que exigia da instituição um profundo levantamento de suas características, demandando a participação de todos os segmentos. Já a segunda, a partir de 2011, experimentou, e ainda experimenta, a elaboração em sua forma interativa, havendo, apenas, o gestor como interlocutor das informações levantadas, para muitos, descaracterizando o princípio participativo da política. Os resultados apontam para um acirramento nas relações entre gestores e docentes e uma transformação tímida no cotidiano pedagógico da escola, inclusive após a chegada dos equipamentos adquiridos com a verba do PDE-Escola, sendo que algumas das razões podem ser o caráter menos representativo da atual versão digital e a reedição de mais uma iniciativa governamental hierarquizada. / This work aims at evaluating the implementation of the PDE-School in two schools in Minas Gerais State. The program, conceived in a little representative way in its macro elaboration, suggests a greater representativity in its micro elaboration, even as MEC imposed an implementation guide of its politics to the schools. It is this ambiguity that motivated this present research. This context creates a number of objectives to be investigated, such as the incorporation of another verticalized politics by principals and teachers; the way these groups relate to one another in the execution of the Program; and finally, on how the demands raised by principals and teachers in the introductory phase of the Plan are being materialized in the schools. The answers to these objectives will reveal to our work the level of the incorporation of the PDE-Schools ideas making possible the identification of the gains as well as the setbacks of this governmental proposal from the view of its school protagonists. Thus, two schools were chosen, having in mind that one dealt with the PDE-School in its traditional format, using a methodology that demand from the institution a thorough survey of its features, requiring the participation of all its segments. The second school, since 2011, has experienced the PDE elaboration in its interactive format, being that only the Principal was the interlocutor of the gathered information, what may have, for some, mischaracterized the participative principle of its politics. The results lead to an intensification of the relations between school managers and teachers as well as to a minor transformation in the everyday pedagogics of the school, especially after the arrival of the equipment acquired with the PDE-School budget. Some of the reasons for these tensions and the few changes may be the least representative character of the present digital version and the re-edition of one more hierarchical government initiative.

<p>This study seeks to understand and examine the role of public policy units with a specific focus on the South African National Parliament Policy Management Unit (PMU). The problem being investigated is that of a lack of constructive support and debate in understanding the role and functions of policy management units. Thus, the scope of the study is limited to policy management units with the South African Parliament PMU as a special reference. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the role of policy management units, with particular reference to the PMU in the South African Parliament. The secondary objectives will then be to provide a theoretical perspective of the role and functions of policy management units / and to develop a case of the PMU in Parliament for further analysis and examination. Examples of existing policy units and the support they have with parliaments will be produced, assessed, and explored.</p>

<p>This study seeks to understand and examine the role of public policy units with a specific focus on the South African National Parliament Policy Management Unit (PMU). The problem being investigated is that of a lack of constructive support and debate in understanding the role and functions of policy management units. Thus, the scope of the study is limited to policy management units with the South African Parliament PMU as a special reference. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the role of policy management units, with particular reference to the PMU in the South African Parliament. The secondary objectives will then be to provide a theoretical perspective of the role and functions of policy management units / and to develop a case of the PMU in Parliament for further analysis and examination. Examples of existing policy units and the support they have with parliaments will be produced, assessed, and explored.</p>

Nos últimos anos diversos pesquisadores, instituições e governos têm proposto reformas na regulação ambiental - entendida como o conjunto de requisitos, procedimentos e condicionantes ambientais ao exercício das atividades econômicas, com vistas a reduzir seus potenciais efeitos deletérios no meio. O presente estudo, de caráter exploratório e qualitativo, demonstra que embora existam experiências exitosas de reforma da regulação ambiental industrial no Estado de São Paulo, ainda existe um longo caminho a percorrer, principalmente na garantia de sua realização sistemática. Para tanto, após estabelecer um marco teórico sobre a regulação ambiental, são relacionados os limites de seu modelo tradicional, que podem ser epistemológicos, ou estar em seus objetivos, no grau de solução dos problemas, na eficiência econômica, nos procedimentos administrativos, nas opções tecnológicas, nas relações institucionais, ou na governança internacional. A partir destas limitações e de recomendações de reforma, coligidas da literatura, se afirma que uma regulação ambiental industrial que pretenda superar os desafios socioambientais contemporâneos deva ser: participativa; descentralizada; flexível; simples e clara; preventiva; indutora da inovação; multi-instrumental; rigorosa no enforcement; baseada em desempenho; planejada e gradual; suportada por recursos adequados; mensurada e comunicada; e reflexiva. Este conjunto de características de qualidade regulatória foi aplicado a Estudos de Caso no Estado de São Paulo, referentes aos programas de Fomento à produção mais limpa pela CETESB, Introdução da licença de operação renovável no Estado de São Paulo, e Adoção da responsabilidade pós-consumo na Política Estadual de Resíduos Sólidos. Utilizando pesquisa documental e entrevistas junto a regulados e reguladores, conclui-se que a maior parte destas características já estão de alguma forma presentes nos programas, sendo destacada a melhoria do diálogo entre regulados e reguladores e a maior flexibilidade da regulação. Porém, as evidências demonstram que esta incorporação não garante sua efetivação sistemática, e as características nem sempre são percebidas ou chegam a influenciar o comportamento dos regulados e reguladores, participando de forma ainda marginal nas principais rotinas do órgão regulador. Ao final são apresentadas recomendações para futuras regulações, referentes principalmente à visão, planejamento estratégico e garantia de recursos para a reforma no órgão ambiental, bem como sobre a governança do processo regulatório. / Recently, many researchers, institutions and governments have proposed reforms in environmental regulation defined as the set of rules, procedures and requirements established by the government for economic activities in order to reduce their environmental burdens. The present study, exploratory and qualitative, demonstrates that although there are successful environmental regulatory reform experiences in the State of Sao Paulo, there is a long way to go, especially in ensuring their systematic accomplishment. Therefore, after presenting a theoretical framework on environmental regulation, the limits of their traditional approach are shown, in terms of epistemological aspects, as well related to their goals, degree of problem solving, economic efficiency, administrative procedures, technology options, institutional relationships, and international governance. From these limitations, and recommendations gathered from literature, it is stated that an industrial environmental regulation aiming to overcome the contemporary socio-environmental challenges should be participatory, decentralized, flexible , simple and clear, preventive, innovation inductor, multi-instrumental, strict in enforcement, performance-based, planned and gradual, supported by adequate resources, measured and reported, and reflexive. This set of regulatory quality characteristics was applied to three case studies, regarding to the programs of Cleaner Production Fostering by CETESB, Renewable Operation Permit Introduction is the State of Sao Paulo and Extended Producer Responsibility Adoption at the State Waste Policy. Using document research and interviews with regulators and regulated representatives, it is evidenced that most of those characteristics are presented at the programs design, highlighting the dialog improvements and the adoption of a more flexible regulation. However, evidence shows that their presence at the program does not guarantee its systematic execution into practice, and the characteristics are not always perceived or influence the behavior of regulators or regulated, maintaining the programs as marginal in reference to the central routines of the environmental agency. At the end, there are presented conclusions and recommendations to further regulations, mostly related to the vision, strategic planning and resources guarantee for environmental regulation reform, as well as to regulatory process governance.

Nos últimos anos diversos pesquisadores, instituições e governos têm proposto reformas na regulação ambiental - entendida como o conjunto de requisitos, procedimentos e condicionantes ambientais ao exercício das atividades econômicas, com vistas a reduzir seus potenciais efeitos deletérios no meio. O presente estudo, de caráter exploratório e qualitativo, demonstra que embora existam experiências exitosas de reforma da regulação ambiental industrial no Estado de São Paulo, ainda existe um longo caminho a percorrer, principalmente na garantia de sua realização sistemática. Para tanto, após estabelecer um marco teórico sobre a regulação ambiental, são relacionados os limites de seu modelo tradicional, que podem ser epistemológicos, ou estar em seus objetivos, no grau de solução dos problemas, na eficiência econômica, nos procedimentos administrativos, nas opções tecnológicas, nas relações institucionais, ou na governança internacional. A partir destas limitações e de recomendações de reforma, coligidas da literatura, se afirma que uma regulação ambiental industrial que pretenda superar os desafios socioambientais contemporâneos deva ser: participativa; descentralizada; flexível; simples e clara; preventiva; indutora da inovação; multi-instrumental; rigorosa no enforcement; baseada em desempenho; planejada e gradual; suportada por recursos adequados; mensurada e comunicada; e reflexiva. Este conjunto de características de qualidade regulatória foi aplicado a Estudos de Caso no Estado de São Paulo, referentes aos programas de Fomento à produção mais limpa pela CETESB, Introdução da licença de operação renovável no Estado de São Paulo, e Adoção da responsabilidade pós-consumo na Política Estadual de Resíduos Sólidos. Utilizando pesquisa documental e entrevistas junto a regulados e reguladores, conclui-se que a maior parte destas características já estão de alguma forma presentes nos programas, sendo destacada a melhoria do diálogo entre regulados e reguladores e a maior flexibilidade da regulação. Porém, as evidências demonstram que esta incorporação não garante sua efetivação sistemática, e as características nem sempre são percebidas ou chegam a influenciar o comportamento dos regulados e reguladores, participando de forma ainda marginal nas principais rotinas do órgão regulador. Ao final são apresentadas recomendações para futuras regulações, referentes principalmente à visão, planejamento estratégico e garantia de recursos para a reforma no órgão ambiental, bem como sobre a governança do processo regulatório. / Recently, many researchers, institutions and governments have proposed reforms in environmental regulation defined as the set of rules, procedures and requirements established by the government for economic activities in order to reduce their environmental burdens. The present study, exploratory and qualitative, demonstrates that although there are successful environmental regulatory reform experiences in the State of Sao Paulo, there is a long way to go, especially in ensuring their systematic accomplishment. Therefore, after presenting a theoretical framework on environmental regulation, the limits of their traditional approach are shown, in terms of epistemological aspects, as well related to their goals, degree of problem solving, economic efficiency, administrative procedures, technology options, institutional relationships, and international governance. From these limitations, and recommendations gathered from literature, it is stated that an industrial environmental regulation aiming to overcome the contemporary socio-environmental challenges should be participatory, decentralized, flexible , simple and clear, preventive, innovation inductor, multi-instrumental, strict in enforcement, performance-based, planned and gradual, supported by adequate resources, measured and reported, and reflexive. This set of regulatory quality characteristics was applied to three case studies, regarding to the programs of Cleaner Production Fostering by CETESB, Renewable Operation Permit Introduction is the State of Sao Paulo and Extended Producer Responsibility Adoption at the State Waste Policy. Using document research and interviews with regulators and regulated representatives, it is evidenced that most of those characteristics are presented at the programs design, highlighting the dialog improvements and the adoption of a more flexible regulation. However, evidence shows that their presence at the program does not guarantee its systematic execution into practice, and the characteristics are not always perceived or influence the behavior of regulators or regulated, maintaining the programs as marginal in reference to the central routines of the environmental agency. At the end, there are presented conclusions and recommendations to further regulations, mostly related to the vision, strategic planning and resources guarantee for environmental regulation reform, as well as to regulatory process governance.

No description available.