O tradicional e o moderno no sistema único de assistência social: assistencialismo ou direito social?

Abstract

Social assistance, their practices and theoretical foundations have been the subject of great discussion. The assistance in the early days of the profession and the social law perspective are shown in the context of the SAS (Social Assistance System) in small municipalities. Sometimes we have archaic practices characterized by charity and benevolence, other times we have practices that effectively ensure the guarantee of social rights. This is a study that refers to the analysis of the situation of municipal social assistance systems, in which empirical evidence was searched through fieldwork. Thus, the objective of this research is to recognize and analyze traditional and modern elements between normative references, actors, conduct and relationships that structure the SAS in small municipalities, as well as the contradictions and harmonization mechanisms that determine. To achieve such a premise, it was used a qualitative research method, since this is an exploratory study, using as technical analysis of information the content analysis. The results of this research show themselves through the empirical information. In this way, through the theoretical foundation and empirical reality found, it has been seen that traditional and modern elements exist between normative references, actors, conduct and relationships that structure the local SAS in the cities studied. Such elements express themselves so contradictory and at the same time harmonize under the reality of municipal public administration. In this way, the relevance of this work focuses on the ability to throw light on an important segment of State action, revealing how regulatory instruments can conflict with a set of practices (apart the law perspective) fielded and perceived as appropriate for providers and beneficiaries.