Democracy, development and dependency in Latin America: The recent experiences of Bolivia, Venezuela and Brazil

ROMANO, SILVINA MARÍA

CODESRIA

Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa

Lugar: Dakar; Año: 2010

The aim of this research paper is to analyze the articulation between formal and substantive aspects of democracies in Latin America considering that, from a critical point of view, it is in the substantive dimension of democracy were we can find the length and limitations of development. In the first place, we approach the post Second World War discussions and thoughts about development, underdevelopment and dependency held by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the dependency school intellectuals. In the second place, considering the key conceptions of those theoretical approaches, we focus on the current administrations of Evo Morales (Bolivia, 2006-2010), Hugo Chavez (Venezuela, 1999-2007; 2007-2013) and Lula da Silva (Brazil, 2003-2007; 2007-2011). These governments changed the pattern from the neo-liberal regimes of the ‘90s, basing their presidential campaigns in speeches oriented toward social justice, and identifying themselves with popular sectors. We highlight the similarities and differences of these administrations, considering the formal and rhetorical dimensions of democracy, the “structure” (elections, succession, political parties system, democratic institutions, etc) as well as the substantive aspects, that is, the policies and guidelines of each government.