Democracy and Exclusive Political Space: the Case of Cavalcante Municipality (GO) during COVID-19
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36403/espacoaberto.2022.54521Keywords:
Power Scales, Coronavirus, Small Towns, Institutions, ParticipationAbstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent sanitary measures adopted for contention of the virus changed social norms, priorities, and the way that politics are undertaken. Based on the assumption of the importance of materiality for political activity and the symbiotic relationship between institutions and territory, this paper investigates the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the functioning of the Municipal Council of Cavalcante (Goiás State), here analyzed through the framework of an Exclusive Political Space. The methodology used involved: analyzing council activities, making a review of the relevant literature on the relationship between politics and space; analyzing data acquired concerning municipal administration and infrastructure; and interviewing council members and staff. Restrictions to political space detected showed the need for spaces built to promote debate and public participation, particularly when a municipality does possess the necessary infrastructure for permitting online access to council activities.