[pt] Este estudo é decorrente de alguns anos de pesquisa sobre as Organizações Não-Governamentais (ONGs), seu surgimento, atuação e mais recentemente acerca dos resultados obtidos através de suas ações. Devido à proximidade com o objeto pudemos perceber que atualmente há uma grande quantidade de ONGs que se territorializam a partir de uma atuação centrada no desenvolvimento por elas desejado. Partiremos então em busca da compreensão de como diferentes noções de desenvolvimento podem interferir nas relações de uma coletividade, tentando entender se esses projetos de desenvolvimento, da maneira como costumam ser implementados, são capazes de atender às reais necessidades dessas coletividades. Para isso utilizaremos autores como Cornelius Castoriadis (1987, 1992), Edgar Morin (1999), Antonio Gramsci (1991, 2002) e Marcelo Souza (1996 e 2006), que nos servirão de base e nos auxiliarão no entendimento das questões apresentadas. / [en] This study is the result of several years of research on the Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs), its appearance, performance and more recently on the results achieved through their actions. Given its proximity to the object we see that currently there are a lot of NGOs that would territorialized from an activity centered on the development they want. Then depart in search of understanding of how different notions of development may interfere in the relations of a community, trying to understand whether those development projects, the way they are usually implemented, are capable of meeting the real needs of these communities. For this we use authors as Cornelius Castoriadis (1987, 1992), Edgar Morin (1999), Antonio Gramsci (1991, 2002) and Marcelo Souza (1996 and 2006), we will provide the basis and assist in the understanding of the issues presented.

[pt] Esta dissertação pretende promover uma reflexão sobre a questão da participação social na formulação de políticas urbanas a partir de experiência vivenciada na cidade de São Paulo no ano de 2016, procurando também avaliar a cronologia das políticas urbanas e da participação social no Brasil e no município em questão. Para tanto, buscou-se compreender a relevância dos processos participativos no cenário brasileiro e local, seus diferentes processos e a atuação da sociedade civil na formulação de políticas públicas para a cidade. Utilizamos como base metodológica a pesquisa de cunho quali-quantitativo e a técnica de observação participante, acompanhando as reuniões dos conselhos participativos municipais presentes nas trinta e duas subprefeituras da cidade e, através do canal de escuta, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, que por amostragem expressiva, objetivou analisar a eficácia dos conselhos e a contribuição dos conselheiros no processo de tomada de decisão e de expressão do controle social. Além disso, foram realizadas análises das abordagens dos modelos participativos de planos urbanos, o que oportunizou refletir acerca do tema na prática, tanto no contexto do poder público, como pela própria sociedade civil. E por fim, levantamos a questão da efetividade da prática participativa ser propulsora de ações de sustentabilidade social, tendo em vista que a implicação da sociedade na formulação das políticas públicas, e neste estudo, as urbanas, devem inferir a respeito da reestruturação de cidades, alinhando as questões sociais, econômicas, culturais, ambientais, entre outras, que permitam melhores condições de vida da população, bem como de cidades melhores planejadas. / [en] This master s thesis intends to promote a debate about the importance of social participation in formulating urban policies, by promoting inclusive and effective actions, because the civil society participation changes paradigmatically the logical of collective way of living. In February 1999 s, the economist Joseph Stiglitz have already spoken about the social participation role: the central argument of this paper has been that open, transparent, and participatory processes are important ingredients in the development transformation - important both for sustainable economic development and for social development that should be viewed as an end in itself and as a means to more rapid economic growth (STIGLITZ, 2002, p. 175). By the end of the 1990 s, it was already possible to realize the necessity of defining public policies directed to the poverty alleviation, such as employment, housing, or education politics that needed to be implemented. In that way, it was comprehensive that the improvement of life quality should be the main goal to a healthier environment. In the Brazilian context, according to Maricato (2016), the Brazilian society has urbanized mostly in the twentieth century, starting with only 10 per cent of the population living in the cities and finishing with impressive 91 per cent living in urban areas. The perception of lack of urban planning in the development of most of the Brazilian cities can be emphasized with the lack of participatory processes and the social participation in urban management. The problems related to the demographic growth in Brazilian cities and its consequences are defined by the sustainability in the urban environment, or the Urban Sustainability. This term was determined by Henri Acselrad (1999) and explained as the capacity of urban policies to be adapted to service offers and social assistance, attending to numerous demands of the population basic rights and others investments.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The relationship between church and state in the history of the Kingdom of Lesotho is an important yet neglected study. This thesis explores how this relationship has played itself out with particular interest in contributions made by Catholic and Reformed traditions. These particular approaches to Church and State relations are of particular interest because of the closeness of both churches to the state in Lesotho during different eras and how they influenced the politics and shaped the history of Lesotho as a country. Sesotho culture and tradition versus western tradition and Christianity also comes under the microscope as investigation into the effects of Christianity and Culture. To accomplish the aims of the thesis, viz. a survey of the history of church and state from the time of King Moshoeshoe until the newest situation of an emerging democracy under the monarchy, with conclusions about the road into the future, a literature survey of Lesotho’s history from 1833-2007 has been used. The thesis also places the history of the church in Lesotho within the “mainstream history” of Lesotho as a country. A comparison of traditional approaches to church and state relationships from leading Catholic and Reformed theologians and an assessment of how they played out in the history of Lesotho if they were applied at all. Furthermore, the thesis suggests a new way in which the Church and State can work together in the future so that mistakes of the past do not hinder either party from actively staying relevant and unhindered by the other in carrying out its duties.

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / Post-apartheid local government in South Africa has significant responsibilities in terms of redressing the socio-economic imbalances of the past, including basic service delivery and fostering local economic development. In meeting the socio-economic and material needs of communities, local government is also required to be democratic by enhancing various forms of public participation in governance and through the election of community representatives for local decision-making. So far as participation is concern, Cornwall (2002), distinguishes between two forms of mechanisms for public participation to include; ‘invited spaces’ (authorized participation) and ‘invented spaces’ (unauthorized participation). In the context of local government in South Africa, invited spaces include elections ward committees and public consultation around the annual budget and integrated development planning (IDP) process. While, invented spaces include protest, civil society engagement with the state and social movement activities. However, the last ten years has revealed that, the promise of effective, responsive and inclusive local governance has not been fulfilled. Rather local government has proven to be unresponsive as revealed by increasing protests over poor service delivery, as well as formal assessments of local government performance. In this context of poor state performance and unresponsiveness, substantial literature points to civil society as a source for deepening democracy and active citizenship. This thesis explores one version of this idea by examining two civil society programmes in the impoverished and gang-ridden community of Manenberg in Cape Town. More specifically this thesis examines the security programme of the Proudly Manenberg Organisation (PMO) and the infrastructure development programme of the Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrading Programme (VPUU). Contrary to the claim that civil society is a source for enhancing democracy and service delivery, this thesis has found that neither of these programmes has yielded much in terms of fostering democracy and service delivery. In interrogating concerns regarding forms of representation, accountability and participation, it may be argued that in terms of both representation and accountability, the PMO represents and accounts to a certain minority only. Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that participation in the safety sector activities reinforces rather than challenging the coercive rule iii of gangs (drug lords) in Manenberg. With reference to VPUU, failure to implement the programme has frustrated many potential community allies. Furthermore, inclusion in the VPUU project in Manenberg was only accorded to two NGOs (notably PMO), despite the fact that there are two hundred and thirty NGOs conducting activities in Manenberg. This has limited participation in the first stages of the project to those groups. While, the VPUU project has delayed in Manenberg, its representatives have also been seen to be unaccountable to the community. In short, with reference to Manenberg, the notion that civil society can solve or model alternative solutions to democratic development remains farfetched.

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / Many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in South Africa are currently under pressure or threat of closure. Although there have been advances in civil society-state relations after the transition from apartheid to democracy, there has also been a steady decline in the number of CSOs in South Africa since 1994. The reasons for this decline are complex and varied. Given the value CSOs make in contributing to a lively democracy, it is important to explore the factors which enhance or undermine resilience in such organisations. This study focuses on understanding resilience among Non-government organisations (as an example of a CSO) in post-apartheid South Africa using Youth For Christ Cape Town as a case study. The site for this study was chosen as YFC Cape Town is arguably one of South Africa's oldest NGOs being formed in 1948. This study aims to, therefore, establish how CSOs in South Africa can ensure resilience and longevity in a complex and evolving political environment by drawing lessons from the selected case study. The elements which have emerged as being important to resilience are (1) Funding; (2) Technical skills; (3) Accessing networks; (4) Adaptation; (5) Core values; (6) Innovation; (7) Leadership. The study found that these factors should not be viewed as isolated elements but rather be seen as integrated developmental framework for ensuring resilience. Another key finding is located around organisational identity. Although adaptation in terms of how the organisation functions are necessary to navigate shifts in the environment, the identity of the organisation should remain the same. Organisations who change their identity amidst shocks and changes within the system are not very resilient while those who don't are.

Utilizing a gender-based violence approach, this study investigated service delivery realities for a Moroccan women’s centre serving unwed mothers and their babies. Primary research methods included participant observation and semi-structured interviews (n=20) with unwed mothers and centre staff. This study aimed to determine what factors lead mothers to seek assistance, types of assistance offered, and challenges and future opportunities for services. Findings indicate a lack of social support to mothers, lack of social and economic support for the centre and reduced service capacity, and the use of deceit in interactions between mothers and staff rooted in cultural notions of shame. Future opportunities for program development and sustainability are discussed. This work hopes to contribute to a richer understanding of gender-based violence in local contexts through the investigation of unwed mother’s experiences of gender-based violence in Moroccan society and how these experiences impact the reality and capabilities of social service provision.

A healthy democracy is generally seen as one in which citizens participate regularly in formal political activities. Citizens’ participation in governance has come to be accepted as an expression of their rights and the manifestation of citizen agency. Access to information remains a crucial component of the right to participate. Transparency, as a normative and constitutional value, represents a means, not an end. The means is the mechanism of access to information. Within the South African context, there is evidence of an increase in participation of a variety of interest groups by means of different processes, as well as through the establishment of numerous consultative bodies and mechanisms for popular participation at all levels of the political structure (Houston, 2001:1). However, accountability to citizens can best be gauged by assessing citizens’ opportunities to influence legislation between elections. Ultimately, the effectiveness and sustainability of mechanisms aim at improving citizens’ participation in policy formulation in order to become effective when they are “institutionalized” and when the state’s own “internal” mechanisms are rendered more transparent and open to civic engagement. Furthermore, the success depends on some form of effective interaction between the state and civic society. In the case of South Africa, whilst the political context and culture for participation exist in the form of the constitutional provisions and several pieces of legislation, a discrepancy exist whereby many South Africans are excluded or devalued by the vast differences in wealth. Citizen’s votes may count equally, but they are still not able to participate on an equal basis between elections. Participatory mechanisms established to ensure citizen’s participation, access to information and monitoring inside and outside the legislature, remain ineffective. These unequal opportunities mean that the poorer and less organised segments of society are prejudiced in terms of influencing legislation and policy. Their lack of full and meaningful participation means legislative outcomes are less representative of, and responsive to, the interests of the poorer segments of society (Habib, Shultz – Herzenberg, 2005: 144). The focus of this study is limited to the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The aim is to, firstly, assess the extent to which citizens can control those who make collective decisions about public affairs. Secondly, it assess the extent to which citizens participate in the existing participatory mechanisms, and thirdly, the study explores the possibilities of the synergy between the state and civil society in promoting effective participation by its citizens. The study, therefore : 1. Assess the theoretical and policy framework for citizen’s participation in South Africa; and 2. Evaluate the level of participation and effectiveness of participatory mechanisms inside and outside the KwaZulu - Natal Legislature. The study introduces the theoretical and conceptual framework of citizen participation through a literature review; followed by an empirical study of citizen participation in the legislative process in the kwaZulu Natal legislature. The study makes the following findings: 1. The literature review concurs that South Africa has one of the most progressive and liberal constitutions in the world. This is coupled with a sound policy framework demonstrating genuine political will for citizens’ participation in policy formulation. 2. Within the political context and culture for citizen participation, the main question of how much control citizens have over the actions of their government remains. Another issue is whether existing mechanisms in the legislature are effective in engendering citizen’s participation and quality input in public policy – making processes. 3. The study showed that ultimately the effectiveness and sustainability of citizen participation mechanisms is improved when they are “institutionalised” and when the state’s own internal mechanisms of accountability are rendered more transparent and open to civic engagement. The study also highlighted the need for synergy between the state and civil society. This includes, among other things, participatory budgeting, public expenditure tracking, monitoring of public service delivery, investigative journalism and citizens’ advisory boards. The study, therefore, makes two recommendations: 1. A comparative Citizens Education and Outreach Programme be developed and spearheaded by both the legislature and civil society in kwaZulu-Natal; and 2. A further study needs to be undertaken to investigate the possible structural nature of the synergy (relationship) between the state and civil society in the province.

Les organisations caritatives religieuses connaissent depuis la fin de l’ère maoïste une croissance importante en Chine. De façon générale, ces organisations complémentent les services de l’État, lequel a réduit sa présence dans la sphère sociale au cours de la période de Réforme et d’ouverture. Face à ces groupes, le Parti communiste chinois est passé d’une attitude répressive à une attitude instrumentale. La présente thèse explore le détail de cette instrumentalisation. Elle constate, grâce à une étude de terrain, l’attitude différenciée du Parti communiste envers les groupes caritatifs religieux, selon que ceux-ci adhèrent à une religion « chinoise » ou « étrangère ».

The growth of the drug war and rates of narco-violence in Mexico has captured the attention of the international community, leading to international debates about the validity and effectiveness of the War on Drugs mantra. Since 2006, the Mexican government has been actively combating the cartels with armed troops, leading to high rates of human rights abuses as well as growing opposition to official prohibition policies. This thesis explores three movements advocating for alternatives to the Mexican drug war that have their foundation in civil society organizations: the movements for human rights protection, for drug policy liberalization and for the protection and restitution of victims of the drug war. These movements are analysed through a theoretical framework drawing on critical political economy theory, civil society and social movement theory, and political opportunity structures. This thesis concludes that, when aligned favourably, the interplay of agency and political opportunities converge to create openings for shifting dominant norms and policies. While hegemonic structures continue to limit agency potential, strong civil society advocacy strategies complemented by strong linkages with transnational civil society networks have the potential to achieve transformative changes in the War on Drugs in Mexico.

Depuis la dernière décennie, l’économie du Cambodge a connu un taux de croissance élevé, ce qui a entraîné une amélioration de conditions de vie et du bien-être social. Toutefois, la pauvreté est encore très répandue. La corruption, les abus de pouvoir et les inégalités sociales constituent des défis majeurs pour la croissance économique, ce qui passe par une gouvernance efficiente et une gestion soutenable des ressources naturelles. Par ailleurs, la forte croissance du nombre de touristes représente d'importantes recettes en devises et des possibilités d'emploi au pays. Mais, son développement a eu un coût, en affectant l'environnement et les valeurs sociales et culturelles dans les destinations touristiques. Dans cette mesure, ce travail de thèse se base sur l’hypothèse que les organisations de la société civile produisent des effets favorables à une gouvernance efficiente compatible avec le développement soutenable. Au Cambodge, ces organismes ont réussi à jouer, et continue à jouer un rôle positif, dans certaines limites, pour la gouvernance du développement soutenable. Elles ont contribué principalement à la surveillance et à la limitation de l'exercice du pouvoir du gouvernement, à encourager la responsabilisation, la formation et l'autonomisation des communautés locales ainsi qu’à la fourniture de l’assistance technique et financière nécessaire pour le développement du pays.Des études de terrain et des enquêtes empiriques auprès de 1.860 personnes ont été menées dans trois sites touristiques importants du Cambodge. Les principales conclusions de ces études et enquêtes révèlent que les organisations de la société civile jouent un rôle très important dans l’application du principe du développement soutenable dans les destinations touristiques. Sans leur participation, il est difficile d'imaginer que ces destinations touristiques pourraient être développées de manière soutenable. Le résultat de ces études a également souligné que le principe du développement soutenable pourrait être appliqué dans tout type du tourisme, que ce soit un tourisme de masse ou un tourisme alternatif comme l’écotourisme, même si le niveau de soutenabilité varie d’une destination à l'autre.La conclusion générale fait des recommandations en matière de gouvernance touristique. L’établissement d'un comité national pour le développement soutenable du tourisme, en se basant sur l'approche participative, est considéré comme nécessaire. Le rôle et la responsabilité de chaque membre seront clairement indiqués. / Over the last decade, Cambodia's economy has experienced a high growth rate, resulting in an improvement in living standard and social welfare. However, poverty is still a major problem. Corruption, abuse of power and social inequality are major challenges for economic growth, which requires effective governance and sustainable management of natural resources. In addition, the growth of tourist number is significant foreign exchange earnings and employment opportunities. But so far, the development had a cost, affecting the environment, social and cultural values in the tourist destinations. In this sense, this thesis is based on the assumption that civil society organizations produce favourable effects for efficient governance compatible with sustainable development. In Cambodia, these organizations were able to play and continue to play a positive role, within certain limits, for the governance of sustainable development. They have mainly contributed to the monitoring and limiting the exercise of government power, encouraged accountability, training and empowerment of local communities as well as providing necessary technical and financial assistance for country development.Field studies and empirical surveys of 1,860 people are pursued in three main tourist destinations of Cambodia. The main findings of these field studies and surveys revealed that civil society organizations play a very important role in implementing the principle of sustainable development in tourist destinations. Without their participation, it is difficult to imagine that these tourist destinations could be developed in a sustainable manner. The results of these studies also point out that the principle of sustainable development could be applied in any type of tourism, regardless of mass or alternative tourism, especially ecotourism, although the level of sustainability varies from one destination to others.The conclusion makes recommendations for tourism governance. The establishment of a national committee for the sustainable development of tourism, based on the participatory approach, is considered necessary. The role and responsibility of each member shall be clearly indicated.