Understanding the Eradication of Slave Labour in Contemporary Brazil – an Implementation Perspective.

Abstract

The implementation of public policy is a complex process that can only be fully understood when conceived as the study of a process of change. This report utilises implementation theory beyond simple theoretical abstraction, applying Mazmanian and Sabatier’s synthetic framework to appraise the implementation of the Brazilian programme for the Eradication of Slave Labour. It will demonstrate that despite being lauded as a flagship programme of global significance, it is characterised by important implementation gaps, mostly in relation to the programme’s design, its lack of a monitoring and evaluation system, and insufficient network co-ordination. Furthermore, the unequal distribution of wealth in Brazil means that slave labour will continue to be endemic, until this economic disparity is confronted.