102 research outputs found
Meanings of citizenship in Latin America
This paper introduces the Latin American debate on citizenship. It examines, first, the general conditions
of the emergence of the notion in different countries of the continent. Secondly, it discusses what can be
seen as general features assumed by the redefinition of citizenship that underlay its emergence in Latin
America, linked to the democratising processes in the last decades. This analysis takes as its main
reference the pioneering process of redefinition that took place in Brazil, because it is considered the most
elaborate one and has been, to some extent, a reference for other countries in Latin America and
elsewhere. Third, in trying to avoid the risks of excessive generalisation, it discusses the different nuances
and emphases the notion of citizenship has taken up, as they may not only provide a further
understanding of the debate but also highlight the distinctions and specificities of citizenship in different
countries. Finally, it focuses on the neoliberal versions of citizenship and the dilemmas these pose to the
original democratising meanings and uses of citizenship in Latin America.
Keywords: citizenship, Latin America, democratisation, neoliberal citizenship
State-Society Relations and the Dilemmas of the New Developmentalist State
In confronting neoliberal models and their emphasis on state–market alliances, new developmentalism has emerged as a powerful alternative, received with enthusiasm by progressive forces. It has certainly
been responsible for unquestionable advances in fighting inequalities, particularly in Latin America where it has been adopted by leftist governments from 2000 on. However, it has been unable to redefine the
old formula of a ‘strong, self-sufficient state’ and the centralising political practices characteristic of the ‘old’ developmentalism. Therefore, the article argues that the new developmental state has ended up by draining the
potential of participatory democracy, which had brought together hopes for inclusive and sustainable development policies and had announced a new alliance between state and society through which rights could be ensured and democracy deepened
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