Programa Bolsa Família e o sistema de proteção social no país

This article’s objective is to reflect on the Family Fund Program, within the Brazilian social welfare system’s scope, clarifying its innovating aspects, as well as the points that reproduce the country’s classic asymmetric social order. Analysis of the country’s welfare system consolidation is carried out in the first part, starting with the first movements at the beginning of the 20th century until the 1970s and marking out the boundaries between rights and assistentialism. In the second part, transformations, which took place in Brazilian society in the 1980s are introduced and their consequences for the preparation of a more democratic social welfare system. Finally, Family Fund analysis is carried out, considering the presented history and raising new issues and critical points.