Transitions to Democracy in Latin America

1. Transitions to Democracy in Latin America Prof. Angelina Godoy

2. Transitions to Democracy Forces contributing to democratization: • Economic downturn • States could no longer contain domestic unrest, needed to make concessions to opposition • States needed foreign investment to bolster ailing economies, and this depends on good international PR • Geopolitical changes • End of Cold War-> US less willing to tolerate authoritarianism • Rise of HR movement put pressure on US for endorsing state terror • Political change within countries • As armed struggle waned, most reformers willing to accept limited reforms (c/p rights) rather than far reaching social transformations • In some countries, political leaders granted amnesties as an incentive for authoritarians to leave power

3. Transitions to Democracy Types of transition (Garretón): • Transition through political mechanisms (Southern Cone) • Democracy initiated by government to extend or enlarge a semi-authoritarian democracy (Mexico, Colombia) • Democracy installed after war or revolution (Central America) • Regression and crisis: democracy suffers crisis that threatens return to non-democracy (Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay…) Overwhelmingly, region today ruled by liberal democratic regimes. Yet there is often widespread discontent with these regimes (desencanto). “Cartilla civica” poem.

4. Contemporary Democracy in Latin America What does democracy in the region look like? • Most c/p rights respected, for most people. • Certain categories remain vulnerable: • HR defenders • Criminal suspects • Noncitizens/migrants • Ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, women • Yet legacies of post largely unaddressed (impunity) • Structures of socioeconomic exclusion remain, limiting democracy’s “quality”

5. “Problemmatizing” democracy • Democratic gamble: notion that rights were expanding in concentric circles; generations of rights • Today, rights understood by most in HR movement as interdependent, mutually reinforcing C/P Rights Social, economic Rights

6. Human Rights Challenges Today • If we are looking at human rights “from the bottom up,” rights to food, water, education etc. are not any less important than voting rights • If those rights needs are to be addressed, must better understand the system that permits their violation • Scrutinize global economy, trade, commerce… • Much of this brings human rights in direct contrast to conventional economics; point of this not to be contrary, but to insist on importance of rights perspective (what’s the economy for, anyway?)