Suchergebnisse

O artigo problematiza criticamente o debate sobre o conceito de "terceiro setor", apartir não do que é chamado "terceiro setor", mas das reformas mais gerais operadassob a hegemonia do grande capital, particularmente o financeiro. Procura-secaracterizar a origem setorializadora desse termo que, de um lado, impede uma visãode totalidade e, portanto, deita por terra a perspectiva de transformação social; e, deoutro, determina sua clara funcionalidade ao projeto hegemônico de reestruturação docapital que, orientado nos postulados neoliberais, mistifica a sociedade civil, desarticulae apazigua as lutas sociais, além de propiciar maior aceitação à reforma do Estado,particularmente no que refere à Seguridade Social e à responsabilidade estatal naresposta à "questão social" como direito de cidadania. ; This article critically problematizes the debate on the concept of the "thirdsector," departing not from the fact that it is called the "third sector," butfrom the more general reforms undertaken under the hegemony of big capital,particularly financial capital. It tries to characterize the sectoralized origin ofthat term, which, on the one hand, impedes a vision of the totality and, as aresult, undercuts a socially transformative perspective and, on the other hand,determines its clear functionality for the hegemonic project of capitalrestructuring. This project, oriented by neoliberal postulates, mystifies civilsociety and disarticulates and pacifies social struggles, at the same time that itpromotes a greater acceptance of state reform, particularly with regard tosocial security and the state's responsibility to treat the "social question" as aright of citizenship.

The article provides an overview of the international trade topics being discussed at the World Trade Organization. In reviewing the background of the liberalization process from the Brazilian point of view, the author emphasizes the need for greater domestic awareness of the emerging issues and new directions which are to be discussed at the Singapore Conference. Occupying a central position within this context is the question of multilateralism versus regionalism and its consequences. The author describes other controversial themes debated in the forums, including the social clause, investment, competition policies and the environmental issue. (Polit Externa/DÜI)

The reform of the Social Security system is perhaps the most important item of the agenda of Constitutional reforms in Brazil. Without it, the increase in the (Number of retired people/Number of contributors) ratio will create dramatic fiscal problems in the long term. This article analyzes the evolution of the Social Security expenditures in Brazil during the last 15 years. The focus of the paper is on the composition of expenditures and the trajectory of its real value, with special emphasis on the impact of inflation. After the Real Plan, the possibility that the prices might accomodate the structural pressures for increasing expenditures has practically disappeared. As a consequence, the necessity to reform the retirement system has become more evident. The paper defines a taxonomy of the different proposals of reform, comments on the most relevant issues being discussed within the debate about the Social Security and includes a proposal of reform. This proposal makes only a few changes in legislation and preserves the legal existence of the job time retirement. Nevertheless, it would have a considerable economic impact compared with the preservation of the status quo and would be a more ambitious and more feasible alternative than the one currently being discussed by Congress.