The active dismantling of environmental policy in Brazil: paralysis and setbacks of the deforestation inspection and control

Abstract

The paper aims to analyse the street-level bureaucrats’ (SLBs) perception of President Bolsonaro’s administration’s effects on Brazilian environmental policy, emphasising deforestation prevention and control in the Legal Amazon1. Besides the policy dismantling concepts, a theoretical model integrating three complementary analytical dimensions of SLBs’ action – institutional, individual, and relational – was employed in a case-oriented investigation of environmental bureaucrats – Ibama Inspectors and ICMBio Agents. The inquiry used Systematic Content Analysis on interviews with these agents involved in deforestation inspection and control activities. The empirical results confirm the hypotheses that an active dismantling process has been ongoing since the beginning of Bolsonaro’s administration; however, the perceptions of Ibama inspectors seem more intense, especially regarding the institutional dimension. The research illustrates the adverse effects of this process on the agencies and bureaucratic capacities, generating paralysis and setbacks in deforestation inspection and control policies and posing serious risks to the environmental protection in the country. This article contributes to the advancement of knowledge about the strategies that a far-right populist government deliberately adopted to reduce the role of the State, weaken professional bureaucracy, dismantle policies and favour particular interests of groups.

Innovation policy dismantling: strategies and causes in contemporary Brazil

“…Regarding the type of dismantling strategy adopted, since mid-2010, by the federal government, most of the interviewees agreed that the prevailing is active (Bauer & Knill, 2013), i.e., marked by high visibility and clear preference to dismantle, which is also in line with the research of Bonelli et al (2023) and Gomide et al (2023). However, the policymakers' willingness to undertake the process differs among the Administrations, as Interviewee 6 supported: "Dilma and Temer cut, but they tried believing. "…”

“…In this particular area, Direito et al (2022), analyzing the Single Registry for Social Programs (Cadastro Único), identified dismantling signs since 2019, despite uncertainties and growing demand for social protection. Finally, Bonelli et al (2023) address the phenomenon in the environmental policy in the Legal Amazon and demonstrate that an active dismantling process has been ongoing since the beginning of Bolsonaro's administration, provoking paralysis and setbacks in deforestation inspection and control policies and posing severe risks to the environmental protection in the country. Understanding how the opposition to dismantling behaves is equally relevant, considering they can avoid, postpone, or reduce drastic policy changes, such as program termination or complete budgeting cuts.…”

Desmonte da política de inovação: estratégias e causas no Brasil contemporâneo

“…Nessa área específica, Direito et al (2022), analisando o Cadastro Único para Programas Sociais (Cadastro Único), identificaram sinais de desmantelamento desde 2019, apesar das incertezas e da crescente demanda por proteção social. Por fim, Bonelli et al (2023) abordam o fenômeno na política ambiental na Amazônia Legal e demonstram que um ativo processo de desmonte estava em curso desde o início do governo Bolsonaro, provocando paralisias e retrocessos nas políticas de fiscalização e controle do desmatamento e representando graves riscos à proteção ambiental do país.…”