Estado y democracia: la construcción inconclusa de laburocracia profesional en América Latina
Estado e democracia: a construção inacabada da burocracia profissional na América Latina
State and democracy: the unfinished construction of a professional bureaucracy in Latin America
Resumen (es)
El artículo examina la evolución de la burocracia pública en América Latina entre 1980 y 2022, con énfasis en la profesionalización y la incorporación de criterios meritocráticos en la administración pública. A partir de una revisión bibliográfica y el uso de datos de V-Dem, el estudio analiza cómo los factores históricos, institucionales y políticos han moldeado el desarrollo de la burocracia estatal en la región. Los resultados muestran que, aunque la redemocratización impulsó reformas relevantes, la profesionalización del servicio público avanzó de manera desigual e intermitente, con rupturas vinculadas tanto a las reformas neoliberales como a los ciclos de liderazgos populistas. El análisis evidencia una correlación significativa entre mayores niveles de democracia y profesionalización, lo que subraya el papel de una burocracia racional-legal como condición para la eficacia de las políticas públicas y la estabilidad política. En conclusión, se afirma que la consolidación de una burocracia profesional resulta fundamental para fortalecer la democracia y enfrentar las desigualdades estructurales en la región.
Resumen (pt_BR)
Neste artigo, analisa-se a evolução da burocracia pública na América Latina entre 1980 e 2022, com foco na profissionalização e na adoção de critérios meritocráticos na Administração Pública. A partir de uma revisão da literatura e de dados do V-Dem, investiga-se como fatores históricos, institucionais e políticos moldaram a burocracia estatal na região. Os resultados indicam que, embora a redemocratização tenha impulsionado reformas importantes, a profissionalização do serviço público ocorreu de forma desigual e intermitente, com rupturas associadas às reformas neoliberais e aos ciclos de lideranças populistas no poder. A análise evidencia correlação significativa entre níveis mais altos de democracia e profissionalização, reforçando o papel de uma burocracia racional-legal como condição para a eficácia das políticas públicas e a estabilidade política. Conclui-se que a consolidação de uma burocracia profissional é essencial para o fortalecimento da democracia e para a superação das desigualdades estruturais da região.
Resumen (en)
This article examines the evolution of public bureaucracy in Latin America between 1980
and 2022, with particular emphasis on professionalization and the adoption of meritocratic
principles in public administration. Drawing on a literature review and V-Dem data,
the study explores how historical, institutional, and political factors have shaped state
bureaucracies across the region. The findings show that, although redemocratization
spurred significant reforms, the professionalization of the civil service advanced unevenly
and intermittently, with disruptions linked to neoliberal reforms and cycles of populist
leadership. The analysis reveals a strong correlation between higher levels of democracy
and bureaucratic professionalization, underscoring the role of a rational-legal bureaucracy
as a prerequisite for effective public policy and political stability. The article concludes
that consolidating a professional bureaucracy is crucial for strengthening democracy and
addressing structural inequalities in the region.
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