A journey that takes us across the Americas to attempt to answer one of the most important questions of our time: What is Democracy?

In 1989, the Brazilian Worker's Party altered the concept of local government when they installed participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre, allowing residents to participate directly in the allocation of city funds. Ten years later, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was swept into power with the promise of granting direct participation to the Venezuelan people; who have now formed tens of thousands of self-organized communal councils. In the Southern Cone, cooperative and recuperated factory numbers have grown, and across the Americas social movements and constitutional assemblies are taking authority away from the ruling elites and putting power into the hands of their members and citizens. Featuring interviews with: Eduardo Galeano, Amy Goodman, Emir Sader, Martha Harnecker, Ward Churchill, and Leonardo Avritzer as well as cooperative and community members, elected representatives, academics, and activists from Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, United States, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, and more.

Bonus Materials

• Extras include video, audio, and resource materials on participatory democracy.

Cast & Crew

•       Eduardo Galeano
•       Amy Goodman
•       Ward Churchill
•       Martha Harnecker

Producer: Estreito Meios Productions

Additional Details

Label: Pm Press

Genre: Documentary

Run Time: 104 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 10/28/08

UPC: 760137481799