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Considering local democratic transition in Latin America

Considerando la transición democrática local en América Latina
Überlegungen zum lokalen demokratischen Übergang in Lateinamerika
[journal article]

Bland, Gary

Abstract

Drawing from well-known theories of democracy and democratic transition, this essay considers the transition to local democracy in Latin America. It raises a central question: Given the landmark decentralization of the past three decades, what constitutes local democracy in the region today and in w... view more

Drawing from well-known theories of democracy and democratic transition, this essay considers the transition to local democracy in Latin America. It raises a central question: Given the landmark decentralization of the past three decades, what constitutes local democracy in the region today and in which countries can we say it exists? Core considerations in comparing local democracy and national democracy are discussed. The author presents the concept of 'minimum decentralization' and, using this framework, posits six procedural and institutional conditions for defining local democracy. Eighteen systems are evaluated against these conditions at the municipal and intermediate levels of government. Despite the real transfer of authority in many countries, and though several Latin American countries have established or nearly established local democracies, only a few of the local systems can be considered democratic. Though the conclusion is somewhat counter-intuitive, explanations for the slow development of decentralization and local democracy are considered.... view less


Partiendo de teorías ampliamente conocidas sobre la democracia y la transición democrática, este ensayo analiza la transición a la democracia local en América Latina, y plantea una cuestión central: Dada la importancia de la descentralización en las tres últimas décadas, ¿qué es realmente la democra... view more

Partiendo de teorías ampliamente conocidas sobre la democracia y la transición democrática, este ensayo analiza la transición a la democracia local en América Latina, y plantea una cuestión central: Dada la importancia de la descentralización en las tres últimas décadas, ¿qué es realmente la democracia local en la región hoy en día, y en qué países podemos decir que existe? A partir de la comparación entre la democracia local y la democracia nacional se discuten cuestiones clave. Introduzco el concepto de “descentralización mínima” y planteo seis condiciones de procedimiento e institucionales que definen la democracia local. En ese marco conceptual se evalúan dieciocho sistemas nacionales en los niveles locales e intermedios de gobierno. A pesar de que en muchos países se ha producido una real transferencia de autoridad, y aunque algunos países latinoamericanos han establecido o casi establecido democracias locales, sólo algunos de los sistemas locales pueden considerarse efectivamente democráticos. Si bien la conclusión es de alguna manera contraria a lo esperado, se discuten diversas explicaciones sobre el lento desarrollo de la descentralización y la democracia local.... view less

Keywords
institutional factors; Latin America; region; federalism; municipality; political regime; Central America; democratization; regional factors; local factors; election; international comparison; general conditions; decentralization; developing country

Classification
Sociology of Developing Countries, Developmental Sociology
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture

Free Keywords
Comparative Politics; democracy; decentralization; Latin America; local democracy; decentralization; sub-national politics; federalism; democratic transition; ciencia política; América Latina; democracia local; descentralización; política subnacional; federalismo; transición democrática; 1980-2011

Document language
English

Publication Year
2011

Page/Pages
p. 65-98

Journal
Journal of Politics in Latin America, 3 (2011) 1

ISSN
1868-4890

Status
Published Version; peer reviewed

Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works


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