Public policy studies using narratives: the case of Santos’ Revitalization and Development Program for the Historical Downtown Region

• Autor(a) principal: Bittencourt, Lúcio Nagib
• Data de Publicação: 2013
• Outros Autores: Fontenelle, Isleide Arruda
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Cadernos Gestão Pública e Cidadania (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.fgv.br/cgpc/article/view/8635

Abstract Acknowledging the existence of different perspectives about how to study public policies, this paper proposes a theoretical-methodological approach based on: Alvesson and Kärreman´s notion on social science inquiry as constructing mysteries based on empirical matters; Spink´s concept of "theme-field"; and, most of all, the gathering and studying of narratives, according to Czarniawska´s work. The case study chosen to explore this approach is the elaboration process of the Program for Revitalization and Development of the city of Santos´ Central Historical Region, also known as Cheer Up Centre. We suggest that the narrative studies shows itself capable of acknowledging the complexity of the theme-field and, in that sense, of the public policies that are object of our studies, enlightening and mapping research questions in dialogue with actors that are related to them in everyday life. Keywords: Public policy, narratives, public, historic centres, revitalization.