This article explores a facet that is still unclear on the studies about democracy and participation, which is the international diffusion dimension. How can we explain the simultaneous proliferation of participatory governance devices in different countries? This paper aims to provide answers for these general questions through the analysis of the case of Participatory Budgeting (PB). The device originally from Porto Alegre in Brazil is significant to understand the international flow of ideas and technologies of participatory governance. It is argued that the action of a set of individuals in constant interaction with international institutions, were important to set PB on the international agenda. From this moment of international legitimation, which is called tipping-point, several municipalities starts to adopt PB in Latin America, Europe and Africa, and an it starts an ascension for its massive dissemination.
