Mais de uma década da Lei de Acesso à Informação: A realidade na região do Triângulo Mineiro e Alto Paranaíba

Abstract

i) Contextualization. Brazil granted its municipalities further autonomy and responsibilities than other federations. However, 94% of them have less than 100,000 inhabitants, which leads to questions about their ability to fulfill these duties. On the other hand, the Freedom of Information Law (FIL) distributed several requirements so that public institutions (including municipalities) implement the constitutional principle of transparency. ii) Objective. The municipalities of Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba are investigated as State capabilities – abilities to solve public problems, using resources necessary and coordinating the actions of different social segments – sufficient to comply with FIL criteria. The specific objectives are: Description of the criteria for FIL; identify whether municipalities have the technical-administrative capacity to meet them; debate whether and how political-relational subcapacity exists; propose parameters for evaluation. iii) Method. In this research, we used quantitative and qualitative methods and data collection was documentary-oriented. In order to confirm or deny the evidence raised in documents, the research used interviews and real requests for information through the Citizen Information Electronic System (e-SIC) from the researched portals. The research´s object was municipalities in the region with a population of more than 10,000 (ten thousand) inhabitants. iv) Results. It was noted that the analysed municipalities have reasonable technical-administrative sub-capacity, but political-relational sub-capacity fails – research revealed neglect of public administration with responses to specific requests for information formulated by the population in general. Furthermore, the results are quite heterogeneous and it was impossible to establish an association between the levels of the studied subcapacities and the socioeconomic aspects. v) Research and PPGAdm (university´s Business Doctoral Program) connection. The thesis addresses the aspect of regionality (concentration area Regionality and Management) as it was carried out in scope of the municipalities of Triângulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaíba with a population above 10,000 (ten thousand inhabitants). In relation to the line of research, the thesis discusses “State Capabilities”, one of the research projects linked to the Society, Development and Regionality line. It analyses the applicability of FIL and the impact of administrative action on society based on municipal portals: its association to FIL´s requirements and popular participation through social control institutions. vi) Impact and innovative character in intellectual production. The thesis is unprecedented in proposing a script evaluation for all aspects of the technical-administrative and political-relational sub-capacities required by the Freedom of Information Law. Furthermore, it establishes a ranking of the transparency between municipalities in the region and identifies the low effectiveness of e-SIC systems of city halls. It also denies some explanations offered in the literature for the performance difference among municipalities and suggests other categories for future studies. Finally, it is important to point out its qualitative theoretical novelty, as no other research analysed the regions municipalities´ capacity to satisfy FIL´s demands, specifically through the bias of the sub-capacities. Dialogue is also established between the disciplines of Administration and Law. vii) Economic, social and regional impact. The research´s results can serve as guidance for municipalities that have more than 10,000 (ten thousand) inhabitants – around 56% of Brazilian municipalities, which hold more than 94% of the national population. viii) Regional implications. The thesis presents a good diagnosis of the situation for the region studied. Detailed analysis allows to identify strengths and improvement opportunities in the studied cities. The assessment guide is easy to replicate and its periodic application allows monitoring advances or setbacks in the level of transparency over time. ix) Sustainable Development Goals met in the research. In an indirect way, the work meets all sustainable development objectives. In the end of the day, it´s about freedom of information and public transparency is an objective to be pursued by all generations, in the constant search for the communities´ development. Better levels of transparency tend to improve social, economic, environmental and cultural sustainability. Furthermore, the thesis promotes the Objective of Sustainable Development n. 17 of the United Nations (peace, justice and effective institutions).