Master planning ‘as a verb’: enforcing participatory planning through the Brazilian courts

Abstract

Brazil is well-known for participatory planning praxis anchored on the right to the city and federal legislation. Yet little is known about how the right to participation materializes through the courts. Focusing on the right to participation beyond legislative and executive branches, we analyze jurisprudence on participatory planning through decisions in two state courts of appeal. We illustrate higher court magistrates’ awareness about the right to participate despite disregard of procedural participation in other instances. Seeing master planning ‘as a verb’, the contentious meaning of participation in the judiciary is intertwined with the standing of master plans in city governance.