Crisis of representation in Chile?: the institutional connection

This article analyzes the challenges to democratic representation in contemporary Chile, with an institutional focus. I argue that the post-authoritarian model of politics was deeply constrained by institutions and practices inherited by democratic authorities and reinforced by the model of transitional politics and its series of informal institutions, which first facilitated, but then hindered democratic performance. While this does not point to a regime-threatening crisis, there are deep challenges to representation and a desire for a different model of politics that is more capable of resolving conflicts and satisfying citizen demands. I posit that, until now, Chile's formal and informal institutions have privileged stability over representation, accountability, and legitimacy. Consequently, it has fallen to social movements to set the agenda for change aimed at addressing Chile's deeper problems of political and social inequality. I argue that institutional reforms are a necessary, yet insufficient, antidote to current challenges of representation.Este artículo analiza los desafíos a la representación democrática en Chile contemporáneo, con un enfoque institucional. Sostengo que el modelo político post-autoritario estaba profundamente restringido y limitado por las instituciones y prácticas heredadas por las autoridades democráticas y reforzadas por el modelo de la política transicional y su serie de instituciones informales, que primero facilitó, pero luego obstaculizó el desempeño democrático. Si bien esto no necesariamente señaliza una crisis amenazadora del régimen, hay retos profundos a la representación y el deseo de un modelo político diferente que tenga una capacidad mayor de resolver conflictos y satisfacer las demandas ciudadanas. Postulo que, hasta ahora, las instituciones formales e informales de Chile han privilegiado la estabilidad sobre la representación, la rendición de cuentas y la legitimidad. En consecuencia, corresponde a los movimientos sociales fijar la agenda de cambio encaminada a abordar los problemas más profundos de desigualdad política y social en Chile. Sostengo que las reformas institucionales son un antídoto necesario, pero insuficiente, para los desafíos actuales de la representación

Nombramientos públicos como instituciones informales: lecciones del cuoteo en Chile, 1990-2018

This paper engages existing research on informal institutions in Latin America, by analyzing informal institutions related to public appointments in Chile with particular reference to what is known as the cuoteo. We extend the analysis from the national to the regional and local levels by considering how these informal institutions shape politics. Our research reveals that the nature and function of the cuoteo change according to the level of government at which it operates. Through this analysis we show how the decline of the cuoteo can lead to the erosion of its ability to contribute to the operation of high-quality formal institutions. We combine a review of literature with the analysis of 132 interviews in six regions of Chile