Conflicts and decision-making arenas of infrastructure megaprojects: a discussion about the Port of São Sebastião - São Paulo/Brazil

Abstract

Megaproject approval involves negotiation/decision arenas at different levels, with diverse actors in terms of interests and social resources. This research analyzed the decision-making arena related to the expansion of the Port of São Sebastião (SP) - port, located in an environmentally peculiar area, with historical, economic and strategic relevance for regional/national development. Thus, the implications of a tendency of bureaucratization of the environmental arena to the conflicts associated to megaprojects were analyzed. For this, theories on rationalization, conflicts and social arena were adapted. Data included materials from public hearings, media and technical reports, interviews with key actors. The paper discussed the implications of the interactions within each level in the planning and the environmental licensing process in Brazil, demonstrating that the actors with divergent interests adopted different strategies of action to influence the decisions. In addition, organizational elements of the decision-making process have contributed to an unequal, less open and transparent dialogue.

Keywords:
Social conflicts; Decision-making arena; Bureaucracy; Environmental impact assessments; Infrastructure megaprojects