O Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento (PAC) no Complexo do Alemão: um campo de disputas

Abstract

In this dissertation, I analyze the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) named “PAC das Favelas" (Slum PAC),” or “PAC das Comunidades" (Community PAC), based on an empirical case, that is, on its execution at Complexo do Alemão, in Rio de Janeiro. I understand that several structural works of urban space are being carried out at Complexo do Alemão with resources from PAC, thus verifying the actions of at least three social actors in the analyzed context: the State, residents' associations, and local NGOs. Each of these “collective subjects” makes use of discourses, strategies, and particular political conceptions associated with and built around the Slum PAC. In this respect, I tried to comparatively analyze how these discourses are constructed and which strategies are used, noticing the converging or divergent points in the constant negotiation process. Additionally, I tried to verify whether there is a possibility of compatibility between the meaning given to biopolitics and popular participation within this specific context, and whether PAC's institutional design is close or not to the participatory ideals expressed in the Statute of Cities. The empirical material analyzed was obtained through the preference of the qualitative method – from the observation of meetings of PAC's Social Committee and Complexo do Alemão's Local Development Committee – as well as through interviews with members of residents' associations, local NGOs, and from state agencies directly involved in the program;however, whenever available, we also used secondary sources, particularly documents that expressed the position of the different actors involved.