Suchergebnisse

This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the Organization of American States' new role in promoting and defending democracy in the Americas; examines how exactly it performs its role among its member states; points out the tensions, weaknesses and shortcomings that constrain its performance, and suggests ways of strengthening it.

The Inter-American Democratic Charter (IADC) is the Organization of American States' (OAS) principal mechanism for the collective promotion and defense of democracy. It incorporates a series of diplomatic and juridical instruments developed by member states as part of a historical effort which begins in the nineteen eighties and nineties, when the great majority of OAS members returned to democratic governance. The Charter reflects an inter-American consensus and commitment to promote and defend representative democracy. However, in several Latin American countries one can observe a growing and worrisome pattern of moving away from such commitment and consensus --challenging the validity and relevance not only of the Charter but also of the historical inter-American instruments for the protection of human rights. In the emerging pattern, a government achieves power through democratic elections, but once in control of the State, it wields its power to denigrate, dismiss and erode democratic institutions, values and practices established in their own constitutions and in the Democratic Charter. In view of these challenges, this article evaluates its relevance and effectiveness in preventing coups d´etat or auto-golpes, contain the erosion of the democratic order, and restore it when it has been interrupted. It also proposes measures in order to apply the Charter to the fullest and/or reform it, so as to strengthen it as a multilateral mechanism for the promotion and defense of democracy, and specifically for preventing the collapse of the democratic order. It concludes with the caveat that such measures will be difficult to implement while the present hemispheric political and ideological differences and divisions persist. ; La Carta Democrática Interamericana (CDIA) es el principal instrumento para la promoción y defensa multilateral de la democracia con que cuentan los Estados miembros de Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA). La Carta incorpora una serie de instrumentos jurídico/diplomáticos ...

El retorno de la democracia como sistema preferido de gobierno en casi todos los paises de America Latina ha producido un historico consenso y compromiso interamericano para la defensa y promocion colectiva de dicho sistema. La conviccion generalizada entre pueblos y gobernantes de que la democracia es el sistema de gobierno mas apropiado para la region se ha traducido a su vez en un mandato expreso de los estados miembros de la Organizacion de los Estados Americanos (OEA) para que esta incorpore entre sus principales objetivos y funciones la promocion y defensa de la democracia representiva. (Papel Pol/DÜI)

This paper is a review of Thomas Carothers' work on the Reagan administration's policy towards Latin America and his contribution to the democratization of the region (In the Name of Democracy. U.S. Policy Towards Latin America in the Reagan Years). What the book raises about political assistance and democracy promotion programs is mainly criticized. Reference is made to this matter highlighting the importance and validity of this type of programs. It is argued that although these point to formal aspects of democracy, they influence a series of other factors that effectively help its establishment and consolidation. ; Este trabajo es una reseña a la obra de Thomas Carothers sobre la política de la administración Reagan hacia América Latina y su contribución a la democratización de la región (In the Name of Democracy. U.S. Policy Towards Latin America in the Reagan Years). Se critica, principalmente, lo que el libro plantea acerca de los programas de asistencia política y de promoción de la democracia. Se hace referencia a este punto destacando la importancia y validez de este tipo de programas. Sostenemos que si bien estos apuntan a aspectos formales de la democracia, influyen en una serie de otros factores que ayudan efectivamente a su establecimiento y consolidación.