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The Quality of Democracy in Latin America Maxwell A. Cameron Poli 332 March 1, 2010.

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Presentation on theme: "The Quality of Democracy in Latin America Maxwell A. Cameron Poli 332 March 1, 2010."— Presentation transcript:

1 The Quality of Democracy in Latin America Maxwell A. Cameron Poli 332 March 1, 2010

2 Dimensions Electoral Constitutional Citizenship

3 Electoral Right to vote and run for office Clean elections Free elections Elected officials

4 Constitutional Checks and balances Judicial independence Civilian control over military

5 Citizen Participation Three generations of rights Active participation Constitutional change by democratic means

6 (A) Electoral Democracy at Risk?

7 Popular leaders, dirty elections Hugo Chávez & Alvaro Uribe Irregularities in elections

8 Venezuela: “Lista Russian” Comptroller general bans candidates –Violation of the right to run for office

9 Colombia: La Parapolitica 81 investigations, 32 sentences Violence in election process –Paras, narcos, guerrillas

10 (B) Concentration of Power

11 Venezuela - Chávez No checks and balances. No judicial independence Uncertainty over alternation

12 Bolivia Morales Checks and balances Yes, congress –CA process –Now has majority No –Weak party system –Emergence of single party

13 Judicial Independence Threatened in Bolivia –Constitutional tribunal closed, then stacked –Appointments to supreme court

14 Ecuador - Correa Conflict among branches of power Disputes involve the election authority and constitutional tribunal

15 Colombia - Uribe 1991 constitution Judicial independence Re-election threat

16 (C) Citizens’ Democracies Under Construction

17 Participation Referenda Recall Initiative by citizens Community councils Participatory budgeting

18 Venezuela Community Councils 26,000 Presidential commission Mayors and governors

19 Bolivia –MAS as instrument –Agrarian reform –Municipal government –Juridical pluralism

20 Ecuador New constitution Recall, citizen initiative Participatory budgeting New civil society organs –Undermining parties?

21 Perú Participation in Law Ley 26300 (Ley de referendos) –In practice, neglected Eg Bagua

22 Chile –No participation –Despite Bachelet’s efforts

23 (D) Constituent Power –Creating hegemony? –Overcoming exclusion?

24 Venezuela –Chávez’s role –Congress closed –Outcome –Constituent power as permenent process Re-election Consejos Comunales

25 Bolivia –Social movement pressure –Congress not closed –No super majority –Negotiation –Hybrid outcome

26 Ecuador –Presidential protagonism –Congress displaced –Participatory but not deliberative 70,000 participants Acosta’s resignation –Limited advances for indigenous

27 Summary and Conclusions Rankings not useful –Election irregularties serious –Constitutional problems pervasive –Participation where representation weak Against two regoins –Colombia and Venezuela alike –Perú & Chile not participatory –Bolivia & Venezuela different in CA process


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