O local e o global na periferia da globalização: a Agenda 21 como alternativa democrática na Região Sul do Rio Grande do Sul (Pelotas, São José do Norte e São Lourenço do Sul)

Abstract

Globalization is a process of intensification of relations on a global scale that related to the ecological crisis, causing major social, environmental and economic issues, calling into question the current development model. As a counterpart of this situation, several alternatives are being built locally, with particular reference to Agenda 21, participatory mechanism, arising from an agreement signed by 179 countries at the National Conference of the United Nations for Sustainable Development 1992 in Rio de Janeiro . The present study had as its central theme the construction of sustainable alternative development, based on participatory democratic processes in cities located in peripheral region, within the context of economic, social and political globalization. In the specific case, Southern São Lourenço do Sul and São José do Norte. The practical reality of the cities studied, it was found that all cases had the initiative of the municipality, and the results point to the political marginalization of Agenda 21 within the municipal administrative structure, the same spot with a share of the population in their development, being limited to environment policy. This marginalization is reinforced by the discontinuity government. In all cases, we found a relatively organized civil society and participatory, composing an emerging public sphere, but that did not prevent the emptying of the projects.