POLITICS, POLICYMAKING AND THE SUBNATIONAL STATE:
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BRAZIL, MEXICO, AND THE UNITED STATES
Robert Wilson and Victoria Rodriguez, organizers

Research Prospectus
In recent years, many countries have experienced significant changes in governmental structures resulting from state reform and decentralization. These changes have tended to enhance the importance of subnational jurisdictions in the formation and implementation of public policy. Although the specific set of factors generating these changes varies across countries, sufficient time has passed to warrant an examination of them and their impacts on governance. Country-specific studies exist but relatively few have utilized a comparative research framework. The purpose of this project is to examine subnational policymaking in Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S., the three largest countries in the Americas. These countries are particularly appropriate for comparison since each has a federalist structure, possesses great diversity in terms of socioeconomic characteristics and culture across regions, and has substantial experience with decentralized policymaking. The project will consider the vertical and the horizontal dimensions of intergovernmental relations, including the distribution of power and resources across different levels of government and among branches at the subnational level, in assessing subnational policymaking in the three countries.

Research Questions. Using a comparative framework, the project will attempt to determine how decentralized structures have affected the nature and quality of subnational public policy. Specific questions will include: (1) what factors support or impede effective policymaking in the subnational state? (2) Has the capacity of subnational governments been sufficient to meet the increased responsibilities? (3) To what extent are executive and legislative branches engaging in effective cogovernance? (4) Do the outcomes of subnational policymaking vary across policy arenas? (5) Has decentralized policymaking enhanced citizen participation and improved governance in these countries?

Research Method. The answers to these questions will be sought through the examination of five research themes. Each theme will be addressed in a comparative framework with comparable treatment of each country and will incorporate examples from various policy areas.

Theme #1-Tensions in core/periphery (federal/state and state/local) relations: an historical view.
Theme #2-Recent changes in separation of powers and relations among branches
Theme #3-Collaboration among subnational governments

Theme #4 -Changes in Relationships between Civil Society and Government at the Subnational level
Theme #5 - Conclusions: Changing rationality of subnational politics

Country reports will be prepared on each theme addressing elements listed above. These papers will be distributed to other research team members and discussed. The three country papers on a single theme will then be integrated into a single paper, contrasting the three countries and drawing generalizations. This paper will become the basis for a chapter of the final report. An introductory chapter will describe the issues addressed by the project, present research questions and methodology and will identify the relevant literature. A concluding chapter will bring together the major findings of each of the substantive chapters. These seven chapters will form the basis for a book length manuscript.

Project Schedule. An informal brainstorming session was held in March 2000. A second session was held in June 2000, with the team leaders CIDE and FGV and the UT team members. This report represents the outcome of the session. Country papers for the first three themes were presented in December of 2000 in Brazil. Following the Brazil workshop, country papers on the first three themes will be integrated into three chapters. Assignments for country reports on theme #4 were made at the Brazil workshop. A second workshop will be held in Mexico in August of 2001. The book chapters of the first three themes and preliminary draft of the fourth theme will be presented. The final workshop will be held in January of 2002 in Austin. It is expected that the book will be marketed to audiences in each of the three countries.

March, 2000-brainstorming on project feasibility
June 25, 2000-Project planning session in Austin
November 15- country specific papers on themes 1-3
December 8-11, 2000-workshop in Brazil
July 1, 2001-Chapters for themes 1-3, preliminary drafts of theme 4 and 5
August 24-27, 2001-workshop in Mexico
December 1, 2001-final chapter drafts due
January, 2002-Final workshop and conference in Austin

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