Administrative Contracts considering Ian R. Macneil's Relational Theory: Reflections on cooperation, balance, and legitimate trust in Brazilian Law

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48143/rdai.34.dalpozzo

Keywords:

Administrative contracts, Relational Contract Theory, Ian R. Macneil, Legitimate Trust, Public Interest

Abstract

This article analyzes Brazilian administrative contracts through the lens of Ian R. Macneil's Relational Contract Theory. It starts from the premise that long-term contracts involving public administration require ongoing cooperation, economic-financial balance, and legitimate trust for effective execution. Brazil’s new Law No. 14.133/2021 introduces provisions that point toward relational practices, including governance mechanisms and consensual dispute resolution tools. Within this framework, legitimate trust emerges as a key element for ensuring legal certainty, predictability, and stability. The paper argues that relational theory does not undermine public law prerogatives; instead, it complements them, fostering a more effective and cooperative approach to contract management aligned with constitutional principles of good governance.

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Author Biography

Augusto Neves Dal Pozzo, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP), Sao Paulo

Professor de Direito Administrativo e de Fundamentos de Direito Público na Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP). Doutorado em Direito Administrativo pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP).  ORCID 0000-0001-8891-7080 | augusto@dalpozzo.com.br

References

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Published

2025-07-01

How to Cite

DAL POZZO, Augusto Neves. Administrative Contracts considering Ian R. Macneil’s Relational Theory: Reflections on cooperation, balance, and legitimate trust in Brazilian Law. Journal of Public Law and Infrastructure | RDAI, São Paulo: Thomson Reuters | Livraria RT, v. 9, n. 34, p. 153–160, 2025. DOI: 10.48143/rdai.34.dalpozzo. Disponível em: https://rdai.com.br/index.php/rdai/article/view/778. Acesso em: 12 dec. 2025.

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 34 (2025): Jul./Set.

Section

Bidding and Administrative Contracts | Licitação e Contratos Administrativos

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