The Rise of Illiberal Democracy by Fareed Zakaria (written in 1997)

1. The Rise of Illiberal Democracy by Fareed Zakaria(written in 1997) Presentation by Ashley Portillo

2. Zakaria’s Definitions • In the West, democracy used interchangeably with liberal democracy • Political system with free and fair elections, but ALSO with rule of law, a separation of powers, and the protection of basic liberties of speech, assembly, religion, and property Zakaria separates this definition into two: • Democracy: rule of the people; the procedures for selecting government, which must be to hold competitive multiparty elections that are open and fair. This requires some protections for freedom of speech and assembly. • Constitutional Liberalism: guarantees civil liberties; argues that human beings have certain natural rights and that governments must accept a basic law, limiting its own powers, that secures them.

3. Argument: Democracy is flourishing; constitutional liberalism is not. • “Democracy Does Not Necessarily Bring About Constitutional Liberalism” • Today, being democratic does not mean upholding human rights • So even though the majority of countries in the world are “democratic”, post-elections show leaders bypassing their parliaments, ruling by presidential decree, and eroding basic constitutional practices. • Examples: Iran and Ethiopia • Why should we care??? • Rise in illiberal democracies: those countries that do better on political liberties than on civil liberties • Zakaria’s fear: illiberal democracies are not maturing into liberal democracies  many settling into a form of government that mixes a substantial degree of democracy with a substantial degree of illiberalism

4. Bold Statements • “For much of modern history, what characterized governments in Europe and North America, and differentiated them from those around the world, was not democracy but constitutional liberalism.” • There is a striking connection between a constitutional past and a liberal democratic present, one with both political and civil liberties.  “every single country in the Third World that emerged from colonial rule since WWII with a population of at least one million (and almost all the smaller countries as well) with a continuous democratic experience is a former British colony.” • British rule didn’t mean democracy, but meant constitutional liberalism. • Example: Hong Kong

5. AbsoluteSovereignty • The tension between constitutional liberalism and democracy centers on how much power a government has • Constitutional liberalism is about the limitation of power • Democracy is about its accumulation and use Point? Democracy is a force that could potentially undermine liberty • Third World leaders argue they need absolute authority to bring order to chaotic societies, but this tendency for democratic governments to believe they have absolute power can lead to the centralization of authority, often via non-constitutional means  usurpation • Point? A country needs checked centralization, through a variety of institutions- state, local, and private- to accommodate civil liberties by keeping gov.t’s power in check

6. Ethnic Conflict and War • Western intellectuals have viewed constitutional liberalism as a mere formalism in rule-making • But Zakaria argues that democracy alone cannot bring ethnic harmony and peace  without a background in constitutional liberalism , the introduction of democracy in divided societies has produced nationalism, ethnic conflict, and even war  ethnically based regimes come to power through elections, but then exclude the other ethnic groups • Democratic peace has little to do with democracy and much to do with a separation of powers, checks and balances, the rule of law, protection of individual rights (constitutional liberties)

7. The American Model for Democratic Governance • “If democracy does not preserve liberty and law, that it is a democracy is a small consolation.” • American system distinctive because of how undemocratic it is but it is a great model • Zakaria though is not saying that everyone needs to adopt the American model of democracy • as long as you adopt some aspects of the American constitutional framework (such as having strong intermediaries that fight federal intrusion and thus check its power) then many problems of illiberal democracies could be fixed

8. Liberalizing Foreign Policy • To appreciate constitutional liberalism implies several things for American foreign policy: • Zakaria says it suggests humility because it’s easy to impose elections on a country but not constitutional liberalism • Washington tolerates a lot of governments simply because they hold elections • The U.S. sees a country as tyrannical or as a dictatorship if it doesn’t hold free and fair elections, but that should really be seen as one flaw and not the definition of those regimes • Because countries can offer limited political choice, while simultaneously providing a better environment for the life, liberty, and happiness of their citizens 4. US foreign policy must focus now on reviving constitutionalism

9. Conclusion • Illiberal democracies gain legitimacy, and thus strength, from the fact that they are reasonably democratic • But don’t they gain legitimacy from the US itself? Simply because they hold elections? So the US enables illiberal democracies • The danger? illiberal democracy will discredit liberal democracy  liberal democracy will be seen as inadequate to ambitious leaders and restless masses during periods of disenchantment • But what if these popular leaders are elected by the people themselves, why is Zakaria so bent on consolidating democracies into Western liberal democracies??? • He talks about the need for constitutional liberaIism in countries but I feel that his motives are not humanitarian but, rather, economic...for US’ interest

10. 9The Politics of Social Equity Arielle Salgado (Smith, Peter. Democracy in Latin America. 2005)

11. In Summary • Critical of Democracy • Is democracy effective? • Are the people being represented in the democratic system? • “grassroot activists have begun to wonder if democratic institutions can provide effective means of enhancing equity and achieving social justice” • “gains have been made [through democratic politics] but they have been marginal” • 3 Focus Populations 3 Issues of Exclusion • Labor/Lower Class  Class Status • Women  Gender Bias • Indigenous  Ethnic Prejudice

12. Labor Parties • Evaluation of Labor Parties to Promote Democracy • Significant actors in the system shifts from the politics of Authoritarianism to Democracy • Acting as collective forces of opposition to the regimes • Affiliated to loyal party allies to secure representation in return for political support • Question: If these labor parties are so important to the system shift toward Democracy why are they neglected democratic benefits and excluded? (240) • Political transition (241) • Spread of electoral democracy • The effects of the changing economy (241) • Neoliberal reforms threatened their economic welfare and political clout • Reform following the Washington Consensus: open borders, new trade agreements, privatization, land reform • Leads to increasing market competition, increasing unemployment, increasing informal labor • The labor union becomes obsolete through the effects of the “DUAL TRANSITION” (240)

13. Women • Analysis of women’s influence in the state and the political system • Praises for women’s efforts and influence • A long history of participation in the public arena as significant actors • Active participants, joined revolutionary cadres, created social movements, achieved feminine empowerment • Feminine vs Feminist Interests • Feminine  “practical”; specific to Latin American feminism understood as the awareness of the distinctiveness of womanhood (245) • Feminism “strategic”; the US/European Western concept of gender equality *The struggle of women is the co-existing struggle of all three issues: Gender + Class + Ethnicity

14. Women • Patterns of Participation (247) • “Currents” • Late 19th – early 20th Century • 3 Issues  Conditions • Women’s Civil Status restricted independence • Labor laws Industrial factory/mill labor, Home, Domestic servants, teachers • Education As teachers, developed an understanding of education as key to social advancement • “Suffragette Movement” (248) • Women usually gained the right to vote under Authoritarian regimes • 1930-50s: Ecuador, Brazil, Haiti, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Columbia, Paraguay • Electoral Democracies: Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile • Ideologies of Women as Voters (248) • Assumption that women vote conservatively and exert a moderating influence on the electoral process • Women are viewed as political assets; capable of being organized into electoral blocks to legitimize one-sided elections • Women render social services through affiliated charitable works, thus promoting and strengthening autocratic regimes

15. Women as Revolutionary Activists • 1/3 of the Sandinistas in Nicaragua • Significant portion of the revolutionary militants of El Salvador • Women as Resistance Forces • Brazil :militant motherhood” • Argentina “mothers of the Plaza de Mayo” • Chile female arpilleras * “as efforts by mothers, wives, and grandmothers to nurture and protect their families” (248) • Political Representation (249) • Gained increasing representation in formal positions of power especially in congress • 1990: 5% of seats in upper houses 9% of seats in lower houses • 2000: 13% of seats in upper houses 15% of seats in lower houses • Survey (249) : [which?] Based on the ideological frame that “women can provide a fresh alternative to stultified male leadership” (249) • 66% agreed W are more honest • 85% agreed W are good decision makers • 62% believe W are better at reducing poverty • 72% believe W are better at improving the economy • 90% claimed a willingness to vote for a well-qualified candidate for presidency as a woman • Quota Laws • Require parties to meet designated quotas for female candidates

16. Indigenous People • Differentiation verses Equality (254) • Especially where the indigenous population is the majority or a significant percentage of the population of the State • Categorization: • Ethnic and Cultural Identity  Differentiation (to become a distinguished population) • Class and Economic Issues  Equality (to embrace a position within the society as a class category) • Basic Patterns: • 1930s: “indigenous populations were politically marginalized, socially and culturally besieged, and economically exploited. They were part of the economy but not part of the nation” (255) • Viewed as an obstacle and a problem to modernization and progress • Faced land reforms attempting to disrupt indigenous collectivity and extra-legal existence in the attempt to make the indigenous culture obsolete and force them to enter into state institutions and systems • Reconceptualization: as a class group (first approach) or as an ethnic group (second approach) • Neoliberal reforms had a negative effect on the indigenous • Democratization created opportunities ; “provided the space for political action” and inclusion (255)

17. Indigenous People • Case Examples • Bolivia: Party Politics • Social Class Identity or Cultural/Ethnic Identity • Under the MNR movimientonacionalrevolucionario, the indigenous found support and inclusion • Incorporating themselves as CAMPESINOS (rural countrymen) • The MNR instituted land reform, positive to the campesinos, redistributing land away from the elite land owners to the people • leads to the deterioration of the MNR (foreign opposition) and the campesinos now absent of political representation, revert back to a ethnic/cultural identity to reunify as a collective force • lC19: symbolic figure Tupac Katiri (Incan prince who opposed imperializing forces) • Rise of Katarismo -> cultural assertion of Aymara identity • Emerges political parties: CONDEPA conciencia de la patria • Indianistvs MRTKL revolutionary liberation movement tupaqkatari(257)

18. Indigenous People • Ecuador: Strength in Social Movements (257) • Activism begins in 1920s; • Emphasized Marxist-framed ideologies focused on class struggle mot cultural identity • Failed political compromise led to a national Indigenous movement • CONAIE– 1990s confederation of indigenous nationalities of ecuador • Guatemala: Civil War and Genocide • 1940 political activism • To overthrow Jorge Ubico • All processed well under Arevalo and Arbenzo • Land reform and peasant-indigenous unity • A US backed coup ousted Arbenz and established a military government • Became an exclusionary govn’t: 2 partied Right and Left • Left only one choice: armed rebellion • Govern’t responded with vicious repression- 200,000 deaths/missing, 200,000 refugees • 1980 URNG: resistance army Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity • Emergence of community grassroot movement, popular orgs Mayan cultural institutions (stressing cultural identity) • Change from class based to ethnic identity of indigenous orgs • FDNG 1995 democratic front new guatemala

19. 10The Rise of Illiberal Democracy in Latin America Susie Flores

20. Freedoms, Rights, and Illiberal Democracy • “Freedom and rights are cherished principles of liberal democracy” (Smith) • encourages personal opinions • pronounce disagreements • “Public dissent is essential to the notion of accountability” (Smith) • in authoritarian regimes they make it their duty to suppress those who challenge their regime—“discordant voices” • in constitutional democracies, “expression of dissent” is an inalienable right • in order for this to be accomplished it requires the protection of fundamental freedoms, freedoms of speech, the press, assembly, partisan affiliation, religious belief etc. • What is the situation in contemporary Latin America? • This chapters seeks to address issues of whether regimes have met the standards for “liberal” democracy and the extent in which citizens of Latin America have enjoyed full democracy.

21. Gradations of Democracy • Common assumption • Free and fair elections go hand in hand with respect for citizens’ freedoms and rights • Why isn’t this true? • Tyrants • As a result= “illiberal democracy” • “a regime that combines free and fair elections with systematic curtailment of freedoms and rights” (Smith) There are levels of electoral democracy and civil liberaties that are used for analyzing political regimes electoral democracies: democratic(free and fair), semi-democratic(free but not fair) and autocracy(non-existent, neither free nor fair, or patently fraudulent) Civil Liberties: extensive, partial and minimal For present purposes “illiberal democracy” is the most important category

22. Freedom of the Press • Essential for constitutional democracy • “one of the most fundamental requirements” (Smith) • Why? • Unrestrained media offers citizens alternative sources of information • Result? • Enables citizens to “circumvent official propaganda” • independent thinking • permits citizens to “hold incumbents accountable for actions and policies” • However…. Freedom of the press should NOT be taken for granted • Journalism can be a dangerous profession, even in societies with independent media • Editorials can face rigid censorships • Investigative Journalism in its infancy. Writers and reporters have been victims of all forms of harassment and intimidation. • Fired, kidnapped, tortured and assassinated. • Fact: “According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), ….no fewer than 458 journalist around the world lost their lives in the line of duty during the 1990-99 decade” (Smith) • Latin America had 82 total deaths

23. “The question my colleagues and I ask is who will be left to report…?” • Colombia most dangerous in the region. • The numerous killings left many workers pondering about the future of reporting Table 10.1 p. 266 Journalist Killed in Latin America, 1990-99

24. Freedom of Presscontinued….. • Who was responsible? • “death threats constituted an especially common means of official and semiofficial intimidation” (Smith) • Government inaction-- Did NOT uphold standards of justice • Lead to further harassment and intimidation against members of the media • The message: “disgruntled parties could assault the press with virtual impunity” (Smith) • Alberto K. Fujimori of Peru was among the worst offenders in the late 1990s • His administration would only report favorable information about its regime • Ran a semidemocracy • Most prominent case was Gustavo Gorriti • Forced into exile • Ways of curbing the press? • Electoral democracies implemented official licensing of journalist • The purpose was to suppress discordant voices • “cross an invisible line and you lose your accreditation” (Smith) • censorships • all information should be favorable to the government • member of the media faced consequences if they did not publish “truthful information” • examples: Juan Jose Dalton, Rossana Guevara • Most memorable case of censorship was in Chile

25. Anti-defamation Laws and Policies “While Latin American reporters have become extremely good at exposing wrongdoing, they cannot count on the courts to investigate, prosecute, and ultimately punish the people whom they expose. In most countries, the judiciary remains notoriously weak, and is often unable or unwilling to investigate cases brought to its attention. As a result, journalists who expose corruption become sitting ducks. Since negative press coverage is one of the few effective sanctions against criminal behavior in Latin America, discrediting the press is an excellent way for criminals to avoid accountability.” (CPJ)

26. Continued…. • Descato= disrespect against government officials • Question of libel---criminal offense • Vague and used as an effective cover for those in office • Two standards for meaningful protection of journalist • “actual malice” and “neutral reporting” • Cases regarding libel and alleged defamation occurred often in the 1990’s • Examples: Argentina and Chile • Tough penalties for defamation were implemented everywhere • Fines, jail time, intimidation, harassment, suspension, dismissals etc.

27. Analytical Overview • In the 1990s Freedom House began to measure the degrees of press freedom around the world • Three categories: not free, partly free and free • “autocracies do not tolerate press freedoms, semidemocracies tend to have “partly free” media, and electoral democracies offer safe refuge to free media” (Smith) • Freedom House survey’s demonstrate that all free press occurred under electoral democracy • Electoral democracy is necessary but not enough for full freedom of democracy….Why? • Although free media exist under electoral democracies, not all electoral democracies uphold free media

28. Electoral Regimes and Freedom of the Press, 1990s “these combinations conform precisely to the profile of “illiberal democracy” (Smith)

29. The Uneven Rule of Law • Besides restrictions on free flow of information, Latin American citizens also face limitations on human rights • Arbitrary behavior by security forces • Unjust violence • A weak Judicial system has failed to uphold basic rights of citizens • Exclusion from participating in political arena or “public sphere” • Three exceptions: Chile, Costa Rica and Uruguay • The governments of these countries respected and protected the human rights of citizens • Still, more common were democratic governments who failed to provide fair and effective rule of law • Example: Argentina • In late 1990’s its citizens faced constraints on fundamental freedoms • Brazil, although the government mostly respected human rights, numerous abuses were still in occurrence • “Police were also implicated in criminal activity of all kinds, including killings for hire, death squad executions, and kidnapping for ransom” (Smith) • punishment was rare • Case in Sao Paulo-uncovered over 1,000 “missing” and “delayed” cases • The murder of Carla

30. Continued…. • February 1999 “Historical Clarification Commission” • A published report in Guatemala found that 93% of human rights abuses committed during the country’s decades-long civil conflict were committed by the government • Study participants were driven to exile • Impunity is a problem • Offense rarely brought to justice • “faceless” prosecutors and witnesses • Adopted as an effort to protect officials and witness from violent retributions • Clear violation of basic rights to fair trials • Violence against human rights groups, relatives and unwarranted breakins • Extrajudicial killings • Example: Fausto Torres Estevez • Torture in the prisons • Example:”the toaster” • Mexico demonstrated a brutal picture of “serious human rights violations”

31. In Conclusion • By the turn of the century, the most popular form of governance was not liberal but illiberal democracy. • Studies conducted by Freedom House have demonstrated this situation • Since the early 1970s they have released annual reports that assess the acutal level of “freedom”basing it on two dimensions: political rights and Civil liberaties “Illiberal democracy is a growth industry…. Far from being a temporary or transitional stage, it appears that many countries are settling into a form of government that mixes a substantial degree of democracy with a substantial degree of illiberalism. Just as nations across the world have become comfortable with many variations of capitalism, they could well adopt and sustain varied forms of democracy. Western liberal democracy might prove to be not the final destination on the democratic road, but just one of many possible exits.”

32. 11 The People’s Verdict Benton Englehart Sarah Lotherington

33. Democracy vs. Authoritarianism • Why might one oppose Democracy? • “Democracy grants power to the people; people use power to promote their interests; hence, people should support democracy.” Right? • In Latin America “democracy is not always associated with progress and prosperity” • Illiberal vs. Liberal Democracy • Less concerned about civil and political rights, unless it is their own that are at stake • Many desire strong leadership

34. Political Culture • “People’s predominant beliefs, attitudes, values, ideals, sentiments, and evaluation about political system of their country” • Civic Culture (Almond and Verba) • Trust in others and a sense of personal efficacy form the core of a civil culture that is “essential” to modern democracy • Criticism • Not participation, but unity between class, race, and gender provides stability • Too Ethnocentric and inaccurate sample sizes • Authoritarianism embraced not always enforced

35. Support of Democracy • Latin Barometer • 17 Countries studied. • Hewlett Survey • Costa Rica stable electoral democracy for nearly half a century • Chilean democracy established approx. a decade ago • Mexico was still amidst transition • Both studies agree there is popular support for political democracy but it is neither strong nor extensive

37. Belief and Ideology of Democratic Support • Trust • 1. trust in “other people” is key for productivity of Democracy • But trust is not prevalent in Latin America therefore theory discounts itself after studies • Political Belief • “legal constraints on state power versus effective application of governmental authority • Poltical freedom = democracy • Socioeconomic benefits/lawfulness = authoritarianism • Centrists vs. Extremeists theory

38. Correlation? • Minimal correlation between classes and support for democracy • Preference in Latin America is more or less evenly spread • Argentina • Ideas of democracy tainted • Lower Class greatest promoters of Authoritative Rule • Only 52% are true democrats, supportive of opposition and tolerance. • Illiberal Democracy is result • Backwards?

39. Satisfaction with Democracy • Support tends to correlate with longevity of democracy • Costa Rica vs. Chile • Corruption • All countries in Hewlett Survey believe corruption is prevalent in society • Mexico 77% • Chile 60% • Costa Rica 76%

40. Activism/Protest • Hewlett Survey • Willingness to engage in political protest • Approx. 2/3 would sign protest letter • More than ½ would attend a demonstration • Less than 1/3 would take part in strike • Less than 1/5 would take over a factory • Less than 1/6 would participate in boycott

41. 12The Taming of Democracy Gohar Kotcharian

42. Democracy. Tamed. • Democracy has made its way to Latin America through “persistent struggle against formidable odds- economic underdevelopment, inhospitable international environments and state-sponsored violence.” • Key questions: Have things improved over time? How does most recent study of democracy compare with earlier episodes? Is it more or less likely to endure? • The chapter explores the key trends over the 20th century • Thesis: Democracy “has become more widespread (and to some extent more durable) throughout Latin America because it has been tamed.”

43. Major Findings • This study initially aimed to trace timing and levels of democratization over the course of century • Figure 12.1 illustrates cycles of political change in Latin American by population. Vertical axis represents approximate percentages of people of region living under each type of regime, while horizontal axis shows change over time • Key assertions from previous chapters are restated • Smith argues that Latin America was difficult to govern as a region • For reasons held in previous chapters Latin Americans offered only “conditional support for political democracy.”

44. The Argument • Research demonstrates the great changes in the “configuration of political democracy in Latin America during 20th century” • Movements toward electoral democracy took place throughout each period • Changes of political forms- democracy strengthening and autocratic rule weakening • Smith has also revealed great variations in the levels of popular representation • The dimensions are different for each cycle

45. Propositions • Interpretation produces these propositions • 1. narrowness of contemporary democracy explains both the spread and durability • 2. spread of durability of electoral democracy facilitates and nurtures “effective participation of mass based parties and movements over time” Here Proposition 2 is optimistic, suggesting that illiberal democracy will transition into liberal democracy while the first proposition views limited democracy as persisting over time

46. 1940-1977 • Mass politics of 1930s and 1940s had an immense impact on Latin America democratization; mass politics increased demands on the state, changed terms of public discourse and “challenged legitimacy of existing regimes” • 1940-1977 Dangers of Democracy: Mass politics halted; major factor was large scale mobilization • Organized labor-exports down, workers move in cities, labor unions • From 1950s-1970s, more than 30 armed guerrilla movements came about in Latin America • Due to agrarian demands, “agrarian reform became a key goal of democratic governments” in countries like Guatemala and Chile

47. Democracy as Dangerous Military opposed democrats because they felt that democrats wanted to win elections rather than protect la patria • The United States also feared the socialist leanings largely because these movements took place during the Cold War • Cuban Revolution of 1959 triggered an even more staunch policy platform against leftist regimes by the US government • US “openly embraced authoritarian rulers or military regimes in Argentina, Brazil, Chile…” Democracy viewed as dangerous due to these factors

48. Resulting in… • US supports military coups • Smith argues that long term bureaucratic authoritarian regimes would still dominate regardless of US backing • Perception vs. existence of threat • Smith adds “democratic governments in Latin America from 1940s to the 1970s pursued agendas and imposed policies far different from those of successor democracies from the 1980s onward”

49. 1978-2000: Democracy Made Safe • “Most recent phase of democratization has enshrined the principles of free and fair elections and the putative virtues of cautious, centrist policy programs” • Declining fraud in elections, greater competition • Dynamics of Transition • Understanding that elected leaders had limitations in which they could not threaten bourgeoisie • “took office not only with positive policy programs but also with a clear cut sense of what they could NOT do”

50. Illiberal democracy of 1990s • Political left declined • “Cult of social revolution vanished from the scene” • Progressive intellectuals were not able present convincing alternatives to neoliberal orthodoxy • Former well known leftists shifted ideologies, moving toward center of political spectrum due to electoral competition