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Latin America: Conference assesses political changes

14 November 2006

As Latin America completes an extensive electoral cycle which began in October 2005, Chatham House held a conference, opened by Gareth Thomas MP, Department for International Development, to address the major challenges and paths to progress in Latin America.



The electoral swing to the left in many countries was high on the agenda. Exploring where this reaction has come from, Marta Lagos, the founding director of Latinobarómetro, initiated a discussion on whether 'democratic disenchantment' is a serious concern due to a failure of governments to respond to popular social and economic demands. The potential issues raised by the shift in the political centre of gravity, led to discussion on whether the left could remedy the challenges facing Latin American countries.



Whilst many speakers paid tribute to the economic recovery and growth that has been witnessed in Latin American countries in recent years, the socio-economic ramifications of this were also emphasised in the conference. Javier Santiso, Deputy Director and Chief Development Economist at the OECD Development Centre, spoke of the "divided society" that he believes many regions in Latin America are experiencing. Social exclusion, engendered by the socio-economic circumstances and a lack of effective direction from local and central governments, was at the top on the list of priorities that speakers believed needed to be addressed as it is creating polarization, crime and violence. The speakers acknowledged that governments need to be more proactive in addressing the social and economic problems before further degeneration occurs.



Dr Fiona Macaulay, lecturer in Development Studies at the University of Bradford, spoke critically about methods of policing and the prison system in Brazil. She argued that a reform of the militaristic style of policing was necessary as she believes it 'incubates and produces extraordinary levels of violence'. Furthermore, the fact that the prison population of Brazil has doubled in just ten years is indicative of social problems and the need for more decarcerating sentences. Dr Macaulay believes that barriers are put up by federalism, fiscal constraint, and a lack of politicization of public security to make it a primary issue.



For further details on the conference please contact:

Sam Hardy
Chatham House Press Office
+44 (0) 20 7957 5739
+44 (0) 7946 642 295

ENDS