Análises de conteúdo e trajetórias institucionais na avaliação de políticas públicas sociais: perspectivas, limites e desafios

Abstract

This article resumes a set of ideas previously developed when the present author has suggested some essential principles to conduct a detailed evaluation of social policies. The approach used to formulate these principles follows some of the assumptions developed by American authors that are aligned with the interpretative approach (especially Raul Lejano and Dvora Yanow) and in proximity with the thinking of researchers who, in Brazil, following the same ideas, try to link anthropology and public policies (Alícia Gonçalves and Alcides Gussi). Considering this perspective, we intend now to discuss more thoroughly some of the principles we initially presented – especially issues concerning the institutional history as well as the analysis of the content of public policies and/or social programs -, taking into account results of Brazilian recent research in the area of public policies. We highlight the notion of process, context and culture, giving special attention to concepts and paradigms which guide the policies under evaluation.