Analysis of the Participatory Master Plan of Lavras-MG as an instrument of Public Action

Abstract

This article analyzes the Participatory Master Plan (PDP) of Lavras/MG (2020) as an instrument of public action. To this end, it draws on the contributions of the theory of Public Action Instruments (Lascoumes; Le Galès, 2012), applied to the investigation of the plan’s elaboration and content. The analysis takes as its reference the public action pentagon, which articulates five dimensions: actors, representations, institutions, processes, and results, thereby revealing the complexities, choices, values, and conceptions underlying the formulation of the PDP. The research adopts the qualitative method of case study and the techniques of documentary and content analysis, aiming to contribute both to the field of Public Policy and to Urbanism, by integrating reflections of mutual interest. The findings indicate that, although the Lavras/MG PDP (2020) formally complies with legal requirements, it presents restricted popular participation and a predominance of technical-economic perspectives, which limits its democratic and balanced effectiveness in urban planning. Thus, it is evidenced that political-administrative interactions substantively influenced the process.