Interactions between the state and evangelical organizations in the implementation of public policies

Abstract

How do evangelical organizations insert themselves into the state structure? And, once inside the state, what is their influence on public policy? What are their demands and how are these demands institutionalized by the state? To answer these questions, the main objective of this research is to comprehend the institutionalization of Brazilian evangelical groups' demands in public policies, by comparing two different cases. The first is when evangelical groups and the state set formal partnerships to implement public policy. To achieve this objective, therapeutic communities will be analyzed. The second case is when evangelical groups insert their representatives into the state to influence public policies. To achieve this objective, guardianship councils will be studied. Our hypothesis is that when the state interacts with evangelical organizations to produce and implement public policies, categories inspired by religious values are institutionalized by the state. This implies that the state incorporates the ideas, ideals, and values of these faith-based organizations into the policies. The inverse process also occurs when the evangelical organizations and their representatives fit their actions according to the state regulations. Comprehending this two-way process and identifying the mechanisms through which it occurs, will be the main objective of this research. The methodology will involve the bibliographical review, documentation analysis, and interviews with representatives of evangelical organizations and state bureaucrats. Therefore, the main theoretical contribution of this study will be shedding light on institutionalization processes which are especially relevant to comprehend the state-civil society relations, analyzing a case less explored by literature: the evangelical organizations. (AU)