ANALYZING INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN URBAN TERRITORIAL POLICY OF BRAZILIAN FEDERAL DISTRICT APPLYING THE ADVOCACY COALITION FRAMEWORK

Abstract

This article studies the institutional change process within urban planning policy in the Brazilian Federal District, from 1991 to 2009, taking the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as theoretical base. We analyze the causes and consequences of the institutional changes that occurred as well as the actors involved and their beliefs addressed to public policy. The research is a qualitative study and has used data collected from an extensive set of documents related to the legislative process and interviews with key actors involved in the public policy in focus. Five advocacy coalitions acting in decision-making arenas on this issue were identified: modernists, developmentalists, social housing coalition, environmentalists and patrimonialists. It is verified that the institutional changes in the last two decades were held by the government under strong pressure of historically hegemonic coalitions. Additionally, we apply the research findings to ongoing debates in the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District, in late 2013, on the Plan for the Preservation of Brasilia Original Plan (PPCUB) and the new Land Use Law (Luos).

Keywords
Urban policy; Institutional changes; Advocacy coalition framework; Brazilian Federal District