Sustainable territorial development and challenges posed by mega-projects: the case of the city of Itaguaí - RJ

Abstract

This article aims to study the role of local authorities and civil society in building territorial sustainability in the implementation processes of mega-projects in the town of Itaguaí-RJ. Therefore, it describes the impact of changes brought about by large enterprises in the territory under study. It examines the role of local governments when it comes to mitigating the undesirable effects and giving a boost to those aspects of growth that help to improve living conditions and the sustainability of the town. As a result there is a lack of instruments for dealing with technical and political interests and strategies of the central government and capital involved, especially regarding the ability to monitor actions involving issues such as discrepancies between the duration of mandates for mayors and maintained long-term planning by firms. The study also found a shortage of trained local organizers to promote actions in support of governance, participatory social management, social and territorial cohesion, sustainability, inclusion and the economic well being of the territory in question.