SANTIAGO, 29 December 2008: Democratic governance in Latin America and the Caribbean faces a socio-cultural crisis that threatens with its destabilization. Political-institutional problems will not be resolved if measures are not taken to improve equality.
These are part of the conclusions of the article “A historic inflection. Political change and socio-institutional situation in Latin America”, by Fernando Calderón, Coordinator of the Subregional Human Development Report of Mercosur, published in CEPAL Review Nº 96.
The region is beginning a new historical cycle after implementing structural reforms and undergoing democratic transitions, says the author. This new period is characterized by a climate of disappointment and unease, but also of great hopes for change and progress within democratically elected regimes.
– This unease lives side by side with the surge of a more autonomous and critical citizenry, linked to new public instances for participation, conflict and dialogue, writes Calderón. This moment of inflection in Latin America may open the way for a renewal of democracy and development, depending on the progress made in strengthening institutions and improving levels of equality, he states.
For Calderón, the key question lies in the way in which -given a context of rapid globalization- politics and democratic institutions will assimilate the changes Latin American societies are undergoing. To respond to this, the article examines socio-historic trends and provides reflections to illustrate its main findings.
Political-institutional problems are associated with the limitations of representation systems and with a generalized public distrust of institutions, such as political parties.
Added to this is the historic incapability of institutional systems to represent indigenous peoples, whose demands for participation and change are altering the political systems in countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Guatemala.
Moreover, in spite of advances made in public policies and political participation for women, political-institutional actors continue to face difficulties in processing changes and demands associated to gender equality.
Calderón asserts that the majority of Latin Americans favor a new relationship between the State and the economy, in which the government may generate greater social integration and equality, while at the same time strengthen the economy in a context of globalization.
In general, social conflicts in Latin America have become more intense, but they have also fragmented into two kinds: those that react or protest, and those that create new socio-cultural forces, political options, and reveal the weaknesses of institutions in achieving social integration and progress.
Calderón suggests that in order to improve governance in Latin America, political ethics must be recovered and strengthened to improve equality and heighten respect for institutions. He believes that it is necessary to promote a culture that values public goods, associated with a strict supervision of public activities.
Additionally, States should develop independent institutions with specific judicial investigative powers and permit audits of international organizations.
Calderón also proposes increasing the State’s capacity for action in order to, alongside the market, create a renewed concept of development that includes greater social cohesion.
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