Democracies, Populisms, and the State in Latin America. Some observations for the current debate
Democracias, populismos, y el Estado en América Latina. Algunas observaciones para el debate actual
Democracias, populismos e o Estado na América Latina. Algumas observações para o debate atual
Resumen (es)
Las breves observaciones se centran en algunos de los principales desafíos que los Estados latinoamericanos enfrentan actualmente, así como en la cuestión de cómo pueden funcionar de manera eficaz en su situación presente y bajo las presiones de transformaciones polarizantes. Se abordarán cuatro puntos: en primer lugar, se examinará el estado actual de las democracias, caracterizado fundamentalmente por procesos de erosión o recesión democrática. En segundo lugar, se analizarán los desafíos planteados por los diversos movimientos, políticas y regímenes populistas, que se han multiplicado y transformado, volviéndose más radicales, agresivos y perjudiciales para la política democrática. El tercer apartado estará dedicado a los problemas del funcionamiento de los Estados en América Latina, sus aspiraciones, limitaciones y desviaciones, así como a las transformaciones que ha experimentado, en el último medio siglo, el modelo del “Estado desarrollista fuerte débil”. Finalmente, en el cuarto punto, se debatirán algunas recomendaciones para la acción política y para una mayor clarificación e investigación (“qué podría hacerse”), y se situarán las trayectorias de los Estados latinoamericanos dentro de un esquema general de las distintas etapas de construcción estatal.
Resumen (en)
The brief observations focus on some key challenges that Latin American states are currently confronting, and on the question of how they can function effectively in their present state and under the pressures of polarizing transformations. There will be four points: First, the current state of democracies will be discussed, which is basically characterized by processes of democratic erosion or recession. Second, the challenges posed by the various populist movements, politics, and regimes will be addressed, which have proliferated and changed, making them more radical, aggressive, and detrimental to democratic politics. The third section will be dedicated to the problems of the functioning of the states in Latin America, their aspirations, shortcomings, and deviations, and the transformations the model of the weak ‘strong developmental state’ has gone through during the last half-century. In the final fourth point, some recommendations for political action and for further clarification and research will be debated (‘what could be done’).
Resumen (pt_BR)
Estas breves observações concentram-se em alguns dos principais desafios que os Estados latino-americanos enfrentam atualmente, além de abordar a questão de como esses Estados podem funcionar efetivamente em seu estado atual e sob as pressões de transformações polarizadoras. Para isso, são apresentados quatro pontos. Primeiro, é discutido o estado atual das democracias, que é caracterizado, basicamente, por processos de erosão ou recessão democrática. Em segundo lugar, são abordados os desafios colocados pelos diversos movimentos, políticas e regimes populistas, que proliferaram e se modificaram, tornando-se mais radicais, agressivos e prejudiciais à política democrática. A terceira seção é dedicada aos problemas do funcionamento dos Estados na América Latina, suas aspirações, deficiências e desvios, além das transformações pelas quais o modelo do “Estado desenvolvimentista forte”, que na prática se revela um Estado fraco, passou durante a última metade do século. Por fim, são discutidas algumas recomendações para a ação política, bem como para novos esclarecimentos e pesquisas (“o que poderia ser feito”).
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