Appointments to Public Office in Brazil: A Comparative Study of the Federal Executive’s Ministries of Agriculture and Culture (2011-2021)

Abstract:

The political science literature on appointments to public positions focuses on the connections between bureaucrats and political parties. However, few studies delve deeper into the internal dynamics of public organisations. This article presents novel findings from a comparative study of the federal public bureaucracy in the Ministries of Culture and Agriculture between 2011 and 2021. The study sought to identify the predominant characteristics of appointees to levels 4 to 6 positions within the key secretariats of each ministry, such as educational background, previous experience in the public sector, and associative ties. The results reveal distinct patterns between the ministries, as well as internal differences within each organisation. By incorporating new variables and constructing a comprehensive database, this study contributes to a more thorough understanding of bureaucratic profiles.

Keywords:
public office; culture; agricultura; appointments; Brazil