The role of interest and pressure groups in shaping and strengthening Brazilian democracy: the case of the inter-union parliamentary advisory department (DIAP) during the Brazilian constituent process (1987/1988).

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss how interest groups, using lobby, contribute to a stronger democracy in our country (Brazil). For the purpose of the article lobby is not the same as corruption, as the media and the common sense usually define. Lobby will be characterized as the democratic way by which demands of different groups arrive at the public power. After the discussion about the social meaning of lobby the article will be concentrated on a specific group: the Departamento Intersindical Assessoria Parlamentar (DIAP). This group was created to defend the workers’ interests (especially) using lobby and it had a strong participation during the years when the Brazilian Legislative Power was discussing a new Constitution to the country during the years of 1987/1988. This new Constitution established several social rights and different authors identify this characteristic due to the action of DIAP that was able to counterbalance the power of other groups, especially when neoliberalism was a current discussion in many influent circles.