SUITABLE OR RELIABLE PARTNERS: AN ANALYSIS OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL MUNICIPAL COUNCILS OF THE GREATER ABC REGION
This research aims to conduct a multiple case study about the participation of civil society entities in municipal environmental councils in the Greater ABC region, São Paulo. The central hypothesis is that some Social Organizations act in the Councils previously aligned with the local governments, thus being able to be characterized as partners apt to participate in these spaces and, therefore, favored in the occupation of seats of these collegiate bodies. Our expectation is that in Councils where these partners are present, there will be greater consensus in the debates and decisions related to the proposals of the Municipal Government. So far, the obtained results point out to the absence of objective criteria for the election and choice of seats reserved for civil society, favoring discretionary practices over who is authorized to participate in these participatory institutions.