Street-level bureaucracy and inequalities

A highly sensitive issue in the process of implementing social programs lies in the role played by professionals on the front line - the "street-level bureaucrats".

Recognizing that the accumulated theoretical knowledge on street-level bureaucracies comes primarily from European research, the CLACSO Working Group on Street-Level Bureaucracy and Inequalities It arises with the purpose of identifying and analyzing the expressions, conditions and implications of contextual elements of the Latin American region in the configuration of street-level bureaucracies.

Precarious social protection systems, distrust in the State, political clientelism practices, territories affected by institutional and symbolic violence, administrative demands that reproduce stigmas and the social position of users, lack of access to information, and territorial inequalities (deficit of material and professional resources) that impact what street-level bureaucrats can do, among others, are important factors for understanding the implementation of public policies in contexts of inequality and impact the relationship between citizens and the State.

Given these characteristics common to Latin American countries, the agenda of this Working Group addresses the study of these bureaucracies, the role of the State in the implementation of policies, and their impacts on the transformation and/or reproduction of inequalities.

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Work Plan 2023-2025