Emergence of AIDS policy field in Brazil

Abstract

This paper analyzes the interactions among social actors for the creation of AIDS social field in the context of public policy in Brazil. To achieve this objective, we have mapped individuals and groups, and have investigated the arguments and ideas that supported their institutional entrepreneurial projects to include AIDS in the government agenda. Regarding this aspect, the results of this survey identifies the resources and discourses pursued by some institutional entrepreneurs and the interactions and tensions occurred during the emergence and consolidation of the Aids field in Brazil, focusing specifically the constitution of the National STD-AIDS Program. We had drawn our theoretical argument on the concept of social fields, institutional entrepreneurship, and social skill.