Family farming policy network in Brazil

Abstract

This paper presents a public policy network analysis carried out on the Brazilian National Family Farming Policy. The study collected data through documentary review, budget consultations, and interviews, submitting the obtained information to content analysis. The results identified the constitution of the network of actors involved in policy management, as well as the characteristics of the relationships established among them. This type of analysis is an important instrument for studies on the implementation and evaluation of public policies, as it shows how the characteristics of interactions between actors can affect the success of public policies. The National Family Farming Policy network, at the time of the research, was dense at its center and flexible at its margins, meaning that it was formed by an important set of actors concurrently working in several programs and another set of more localized actors. Nonetheless, both at the center and at the margins, it was observed that several actors are not always as active as expected. Based on the public policy networks analysis theoretical framework, it is suggested that such a situation compromises the network’s functioning and the outcome of the underlying policies. Moreover, the network characteristics reinforce the importance of the federative pact for the functioning of family farming policy in Brazil and show that the interests and demands of subnational managers should be effectively considered to achieve the expected results.

Keywords:
Public policy networks; Family farming; Network relationships