Democratic Governance as an Effective and Enduring Response to the Challenges Facing Latin America

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Structural Change ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Democratic Governance ◽  
The State ◽  
Santo Domingo ◽  
International Forum

The pandemic has highlighted longstanding shortcomings and challenges facing Latin America. We must make the most of this moment to bring about the historic transformations necessary to build a democratic governance that will bring peace, prosperity and social justice. The region requires structural change and this is, of course, nothing new. But now may be the most propitious moment in decades due to the electoral super-cycle that Latin America is experiencing from late 2020 until 2024, a period in which all presidential positions in the region are up for renewal, together with numerous legislative and subnational authorities. It is a unique opportunity that the region cannot afford to miss. This report was prepared by Jorge Máttar at the request of International IDEA under the direction of Daniel Zovatto. It is based on the minutes of seminars from The State of Democracy in Latin America project, implemented in 2020 by the Fundação Fernando Henrique Cardoso, the Fundación Democracia y Desarrollo, and International IDEA, and on the sessions of the International Forum of Santo Domingo on the Socioeconomic and Political Panorama for Latin America, held jointly with Funglode in January 2021. It also includes reflections, analysis and proposals produced together with Sergio Bitar (Bitar and Zovatto 2021), as well as those of Fernando Reyes Matta, Sergio Fausto and José Octavio Bordón. Other papers and empirical evidence have provided essential background for the preparation of this report.

scholarly journals Between Secularist and Jihadist Bodes, Egypt and Sudan in Crossroads

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (26) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Mahgoub El-Tigani Mahmoud
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
Symbolic Representation ◽  
Democratic Governance ◽  
The State ◽  
Population Development ◽  
Religious Orientations ◽  
The Future ◽  
Political Integrity

The societal conflicts between Secularist groups and Jihadist militants on the role religious orientations played in the state democratization, social justice, human rights, and population development posited national exigencies un-decisively met by governments of the African and Arab regions. Part one of our research theorized three typologies shaping the challenges of similar conflicts in the Arab-African states of Egypt and Sudan. The typologies symbolized a Sufi culture perpetuating Muslims’ humanitarian relations; Secularist thought excluding the politics of faith; and Jihadist reactionaries manipulating symbolic representation of religion in the striving for power domains. Lacking in serenity the Sufi culture maintained for ages by popular prevalence, the Jihadist reactionaries sponsored a theocratic militancy that generated instability by excessive violence. Entrenched in non-democratic authoritative systems, the state failed in both countries to end peacefully the deepened tensions of the ongoing contradictions. Preserving the popular culture and supporting democratic governance, the Sufi/Secularist groups would probably continue to resist the theocratic dogma that evidently penetrated the region. Part two of the research proposed a study on the typologies’ dynamics to project the extent of political integrity in the future of Sudan and Egypt. This paper comprised a brief summary of part one of the analysis.

Bihari Identity: An Uncharted Question

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-342
Author(s):  
Jyoti Verma
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Middle Class ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Caste Differentiation ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Ambition ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Unfair Treatment ◽  
Indian Identity

Sources of multidisciplinary social sciences were consulted for understanding the Bihari identity narrative. Bihar’s glorious history and landmark events of 100 years (1912–2012), were briefly examined. Observations and sparse empirical findings were used for presenting the Bihari identity discourse. Seemingly, the identities ‘fighter’ and ‘revolutionary’ resulted from the land’s rebellious background while unfair treatment during colonial and post-colonial rules conferred the identity ‘poor and backward’ to the state. Difficult conditions kept Bihar’s population on move and Biharis became identified as ‘migrants’. Lalu–Rabri’s regime (1990–2005) thoroughly tarnished the state’s image while feudal mentality, caste differentiation, political ambition and collective power of the oppressed constituted the identities ‘criminals’ and ‘violent’. Empirical evidence indicates that the struggling middle class wanted power was competitive and untrusting. Nevertheless, Biharis were sensitive towards others’ feelings, cared for relationships, were intelligent, hardworking and patient. An insider finds elements of simplicity in Bihari people’s attire and etiquette but also perceive them to be undisciplined, socially irresponsible and tolerant towards corruption. However, Bihari identity was in transition; backward caste was in power, social justice and development were utilized as power managing strategies and urban Biharis were opting for capitalist culture. Although Bihari identity remains tied to caste and subregions, it seems to be a subset of Indian identity.

Minimizing Missed Opportunities: Modeling Relationships between the State and Business in Russia

2009 ◽  
pp. 42-61
Author(s):  
A. Oleynik
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Common Good ◽  
The State ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
Individual Decision ◽  
Missed Opportunities ◽  
Power Domination ◽  
Individual Decision Making ◽  
Optimal Outcomes

Power involves a number of models of choice: maximizing, satisficing, coercion, and minimizing missed opportunities. The latter is explored in detail and linked to a particular type of power, domination by virtue of a constellation of interests. It is shown that domination by virtue of a constellation of interests calls for justification through references to a common good, i.e. a rent to be shared between Principal and Agent. Two sources of sub-optimal outcomes are compared: individual decision-making and interactions. Interactions organized in the form of power relationships lead to sub-optimal outcomes for at least one side, Agent. Some empirical evidence from Russia is provided for illustrative purposes.

A Legitimacy Crisis of Representative Democracy?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques Thomassen ◽  
Carolien van Ham
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Short Description ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Systematic Fashion ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Established Democracies ◽  
Legitimacy Crisis

This chapter presents the research questions and outline of the book, providing a brief review of the state of the art of legitimacy research in established democracies, and discusses the recurring theme of crisis throughout this literature since the 1960s. It includes a discussion of the conceptualization and measurement of legitimacy, seeking to relate legitimacy to political support, and reflecting on how to evaluate empirical indicators: what symptoms indicate crisis? This chapter further explains the structure of the three main parts of the book. Part I evaluates in a systematic fashion the empirical evidence for legitimacy decline in established democracies; Part II reappraises the validity of theories of legitimacy decline; and Part II investigates what (new) explanations can account for differences in legitimacy between established democracies. The chapter concludes with a short description of the chapters included in the volume.

Prisoners’ Families and the Problem of Social Justice

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Condry
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Democratic Society ◽  
The State ◽  
Equal Citizenship

This chapter explores the wide-ranging impact of imprisonment upon the lives of the families of prisoners and the entrenched social inequalities that this both generates and reinforces. It considers the concept of social justice and whether it is useful to this enterprise. The chapter furthermore questions why the families of prisoners are faced with many difficulties. It applies theories of social justice to the consequences experienced by families of prisoners and asks whether or not those consequences are consistent with the principles of these theories. In a democratic society that claims to be organised around principles of equal citizenship, the chapter argues that there is a need to fully consider how and why families of prisoners (as innocent citizens) are affected by punishment inflicted by the state.

Capitalism and the State in Latin America

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban Torres ◽  
Carina Borrastero
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Latin America ◽  
Social Inequality ◽  
Latin American ◽  
The State ◽  
American Sociology ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
The Relationship

This article analyzes how the research on the relation between capitalism and the state in Latin America has developed from the 1950s up to the present. It starts from the premise that knowledge of this relation in sociology and other social sciences in Latin America has been taking shape through the disputes that have opposed three intellectual standpoints: autonomist, denialist, and North-centric. It analyzes how these standpoints envision the relationship between economy and politics and how they conceptualize three regionally and globally growing trends: the concentration of power, social inequality, and environmental depletion. It concludes with a series of challenges aimed at restoring the theoretical and political potency of the autonomist program in Latin American sociology.

Indigenous movements, ICTs and the state in Latin America

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Pascal Lupien ◽  
Gabriel Chiriboga ◽  
Soledad Machaca
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
The State ◽  
Indigenous Movements

Emotions and politics of sensibilities in Latin America

2021 ◽  
pp. 026858092199451
Author(s):  
Adrian Scribano
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Latin America ◽  
The State ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Social ◽  
Multi Method Approach ◽  
Method Approach

The social sciences in Latin America have always had a special connection with the study and analysis of the place of emotions in the social structuration processes. The aim of this article is to offer a synthetic exposition of some inquiries about emotions and the politics of sensibilities in Latin America, emphasizing those that are being felt in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this objective, first we offer a synthesis of the theoretical and methodological points that will guide the interpretation; then we draw on pre-existing inquiries and surveys which allow us to capture the state of sensibilities before and during the pandemic in the region; and finally some conclusions are presented. The work is based on a multi-method approach, where qualitative and quantitative secondary and primary data are articulated in tandem.

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