# Future Fragments This is where I drop off bits of thoughts, rough lines, or things I found interesting that I might want to turn into something more later. It's like a quiet shelf where ideas can rest until I'm ready to work on them (God knows when!). --- ## Entries ### Can the left reform? I’ve been thinking about how different governments deal with civil service reform, especially those led by the left. In Brazil, this topic is still hard for progressive parties. There’s a strong association between state reform and things like fiscal cuts and austerity. This creates resistance, even though some changes are clearly needed. During Lula’s third term, though, they started using the phrase “transformação do Estado” to describe their modernization policies. It’s a way of framing reform without falling into the language of adjustment. In other countries, the framing shifts a lot between governments. In France, each president gave a [new name to what was basically a similar](https://www.modernisation.gouv.fr/quest-ce-que-la-transformation-publique/histoire-de-la-transformation-publique) effort. Sarkozy called it RGPP (Révision générale des Politiques Publiques), Hollande changed it to MAP (Modernisation de l’Action Publique), and now Macron uses the term “transformation publique.” These shifts show how naming matters, it helps signal priorities without necessarily changing the core ideas. In South Africa, it was even more complex. The ANC pushed several reforms at once, mixing elements from New Public Management with a local push for values-based governance. It emphasized flexibility, but often led to too much discretion and lots of corruption. In Chile, the picture is different. Left governments there, especially during the Concertación years, seemed more comfortable with the idea of state reform. Their government programs consistently included strong plans to modernize public institutions. What I find interesting is how parties on the left navigate this space. Some avoid the term reform altogether, others rename it, and some embrace it fully. It’s clear that language and political framing shape what’s possible.