Decision-making process for the construction of the Administrative City in Belo Horizonte

Abstract

This paper analyzes the construction of the new seat of Government of the State of Minas Gerais, the “Administrative City”, inaugurated in 2010. Subject to this analysis is the decision-making process to build the complex, its choice of location, financing, contracting form, environmental licensing. The case is studied in the light of the central issues of urban development policy in Brazil. The case study reiterated the existent pattern of relationships between State, society and interest groups on the one hand, but showed that new actors and processes were incorporated on the other.