Building a State for the 21st Century

Based on the economist Francisco Gaetani’s practical and academic experience in public management and on the political scientist Miguel Lago’s research and analysis on public policy, A construção de um Estado para o século XXI examines federal public management with provocations and propositions.

The book is destined to anyone who wishes to understand the workings of Brazilian public institutions. In the first of three parts, the authors deconstruct myths and fallacies about the Brazilian State, putting in check commonplace ideas about its function and the role of public servants and of governmental structure. Then, they dedicate themselves to deciphering large issues faced by the Brazilian State — including its historical construction, the ineffectiveness of public policy, and the expansion of controlling activity. Finally, in the third part, the authors share ideas and proposals to build a 21st Century State.

There’s no strong democracy without a strong, legitimate and responsive State, government and public administration. In A construção de um Estado para o século XXI, published in partnership between Cobogó and Instituto República, Miguel Lago and Francisco Gaetani Bring up important debates, proposals and solutions for this collective effort. It’s a call to action to public agents, for a commitment to (re)build the State — which must count on the support of all of those involved in public management, as well as civil society as a whole.

About the authors
Francisco Gaetani is a Doctor of Public Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Department of Government, and a Specialist in Public Policy and Government Management (EPPGG) from the Escola Nacional de Administração Pública (ENAP). He’s the current coordinator of the Professional Master’s Program in Public Management from the Escola Brasileira de Administração Pública e de Empresas (EBAPE/FGV), head of the Instituto Republica.org Administrative Board, an Instituto Arapyaú and Centro Brasileiro de Relações Internacionais (CEBRI) fellow, a consultant and speaker, as well as permanent professor at Instituto Rio Branco and ENAP. Gaetani has worked in the United Nations Development Program (PNUD), and, among other roles, has been responsible for governance and general-coordinator of PNUD actions in Brazil. In federal public administration, he has worked as executive secretary, adjunct executive secretary and national management secretary for the Ministry of Planning. He has also been an executive secretary at the Ministry of the Environment. He has served on the boards of Banco do Brasil, BNDES, FINEP, EPE, Eletronorte, and Hospital das Clínicas de Porto Alegre. He now serves on the Banco do Brasil Sustainability Board, and on the Fundação Brasileira de Desenvolvimento Sustentável and Maranta Administrative Boards.

Miguel Lago is a political scientist, and studies the intersection of technology, democracy and health policy. He’s currently a professor at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia and at the Sciences Po Paris École d’Affaires Publiques. He's the executive director of the Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde (IEPS) and, previously, was cofounder of Meu Rio and president-director of NOSSAS, an organization of civic technology that became a reference in Latin America. He has coauthored Linguagem da Destruição: a crise da democracia brasileira and Do que falamos quando falamos de Populismo, both published by Companhia das Letras. His writing has been published in major newspapers, such as The New York Times, Le Monde, El País and piauí. In 2019, Miguel was named one of the 100 most influent people in digital government in the world by British organization Apolitical.

Specifications
Title A construção de um Estado para o século XXI
[Building a State for the 21st Century]
Authors Francisco Gaetani and Miguel Lago
Language Portuguese
Page count 256
ISBN 978-65-5691-089-5
Cover Daniel Trench
Format Softcover
Size 14 x 21 cm
Year 2022