PRIVILEGED INTERESTS: CLASS-BASED VARIATION IN GOVENRMENT RESPONSIVENESS IN BRAZILIAN STATES

This dissertation asks under what conditions governments will be more responsive to the interests of lower socioeconomic groups. To answer this question, I take a subnational approach, looking at variation among and within Brazilian states. I argue that governments will be more responsive to the interests of lower socioeconomic groups where left parties are in control, electoral environments are more competitive and civil society is stronger. To test my theory, I use both a quantitative analysis and qualitative case studies. In the quantitative analysis, I use an original dataset to examine the determinants of state investment in progressive social policies. I find evidence that, all else equal, left parties invest more in such policies than do other parties. I also develop qualitative case studies of Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás and Paraná. Through these case studies, I find additional evidence that the presence of a strong left is important for responsiveness to lower income groups. Civil society organization and competition are less effective on their own, but still have a role to play.Doctor of Philosoph