Empowering teenagers: Exploring the role of Non-Governmental Organizations in mediating the relationship between political economy and socio-economic issues

• Autor(a) principal: Tavares, Luísa Matilde Neves
• Data de Publicação: 2023
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10071/30498
• topic: Economia política -- Political economy; Exclusão social -- Social exclusion; ONG Organização não-governamental -- NGO Non-governmental organization; Programa Escolhas

In an era marked by globalization and increased economic competitiveness, this study delves into the challenges of addressing socio-economic issues within the context of political economy. It aims to explore how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can effectively address these challenges while facing the difficulties and opportunities that arise from their involvement. Focusing on Programa Escolhas, a long-running Portuguese government-sponsored program to engage disadvantaged teens in difficult neighborhoods, the present project takes an analytical approach that aims to understand the dynamics between political economies and social exclusion, identifying essential building blocks for enhancing social inclusion. NGOs, as relatively new actors in this area, play a vital role in addressing inequities and advocating for special interests, where the key features of effective NGOs include their grounding in "participative democracy," alignment with donors, and supportive government roles. The study emphasizes the need to understand Portugal’s history to effectively grasp these challenges' roots. Conducting case studies of two selected Portuguese NGOs within Programa Escolhas and their initiatives, the dissertation aims to provide insights that can shed light on how NGOs, policymakers, and stakeholders can promote socio-economic progress and inclusive growth.