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Democratic practices - participation, citizenship rights, and an inclusionary state - enhance human development. The book uncovers how local democratic governance improves well-being, related to poverty, health, women's empowerment, and education. Municipalities that invest in democracy attain greater human development. Commitments to democracy thus have real consequences for citizens.
List of contents
Introduction; 1. Democracy at work; 2. Building pathways for change; 3. Research design, methods, and variables; 4. Reducing poverty: broadening access to income; 5. Improving health: saving lives; 6. Empowering women: saving mothers and enhancing opportunities; 7. Educating society: promoting public education and learning; 8. Pathways at work: lessons from Brazil's poor Northeast; Conclusion: how democracy improves well-being.
About the author
Brian Wampler is Professor of Political Science at Boise State University, Idaho. He is the author of Activating Democracy in Brazil: Popular Participation, Social Justice, and Interlocking Institutions (2015), and Participatory Budgeting in Brazil: Contestation, Cooperation and Accountability (2007).Natasha Borges Sugiyama Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She is the author of Diffusion of Good Government: Social Sector Reforms in Brazil (2012).Michael Touchton is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Miami. He is the co-author of Salvaging Communities: How American Cities Rebuild Closed Military Bases (Forthcoming) with Amanda Johnson.
Summary
Democratic practices - participation, citizenship rights, and an inclusionary state - enhance human development. The book uncovers how local democratic governance improves well-being, related to poverty, health, women's empowerment, and education. Municipalities that invest in democracy attain greater human development. Commitments to democracy thus have real consequences for citizens.
