Advocacy: Between the streets and the government office

Abstract

This teaching case presents the dilemma faced by a Brazilian civil society organization engaged in advocacy aimed at influencing environmental and human rights public policies. The narrative follows the executive director of the fictional organization Rede Vida Digna as she considers whether to join a federal government technical advisory group responsible for reviewing the regulatory framework for environmental licensing. Participation would allow the organization to directly shape the regulatory text, but would require signing a confidentiality agreement that could compromise the organization’s transparency with the communities it serves. The case explores tensions between social mobilization and institutional engagement, legitimacy, governance, and reputational risks, inviting students to reflect on advocacy strategies in complex political and institutional contexts.