CONSERVADORISMO E TRADIÇÃO EM PONTA GROSSA: REPRESENTAÇÃO SOCIAL, MITO OU REALIDADE NA POLÍTICA LOCAL?

Abstract

In a common sense, Ponta Grossa (PR) has been considered as a conservative and traditionalist city. Straightforwardly, its historical background has showed maintenance and centralization of political power of some historical families. These families projected themselves at the local political arena as aristocratic set which has centralized the economic and political power in opposition to popular groups. Frequently, the political actions from municipal govern have been endorsing elitist interests from this aristocratic faction in disagreement about popular groups. These popular groups have not find at local level large spaces of political participation when compared with the influential elite. Notwithstanding, at the turn of the twenty-century some two distinct popular groups achieved successful results from municipal elections. In this context, Ponta Grossa has been experienced some controversial situations considering participation from population, rupture with oligarchy trends and emancipation processes of constructing a democratic local society. In this sense, this research aims at understanding the way of conservatism from aristocratic sectors manipulates the political power in the region and its consequences for the city. At the same time, this study endeavours to identify and analyse some flourishing approaches from popular groups to face dominance of political power from privileged classes.