In the 1980s and 1990s, the confluence of the third wave of democracy, neo‐liberal economic reforms and economic crises in Latin America, produced several significant consequences for the region's underdeveloped interest group systems. By using an international political economy approach, this article examines these developments and particularly how neo‐liberal policies affected the political fortunes of big business plus the broader political fall‐out from neo‐liberal policies. In essence, we make the argument that, for three reasons, the consequences of the confluence of these three developments for Latin America's emerging interest group system are mixed in terms of a more pluralist, open‐access system. First, the influence of big business persists and in many ways has been enhanced as the economically and politically privileged position of large private companies since the 1980s has given way to economic concentration, transnationalization and the rise of multilatinas (Latin American multinational companies, which primarily operate across the region). Second, political opportunities have been opened for a range of interests, many from the left, that likely would not otherwise have emerged so early in the region. Third, the election of leaders opposed to neo‐liberal policies may transform Latin America's political economy and aid in the democratization of its interest group system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The rapid expansion of China is one of the key economic and political issues at the start of the twenty-first century. China's importance in South-South trade (and competition) as well as in South-South investment has already brought about many changes for developing regions, and they are likely to be extrapolated in the years to come. The growing economic position of the biggest developing country in the world implies much greater political power, affecting all other countries as well as international relations and global politics. For Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern and Central Europe, the effects are likely to be far reaching. This article first looks into the global expansion of China, providing an overview of some striking economic figures. It also reviews the economic development of China, explaining how its communist party has used neoliberal measures to cause an economic transformation. It then analyzes how this transformation has affected China's role in Asia and China's policies towards the ‘Global South’. Finally, contemporary South-South relations in the context of globalized markets are discussed.
Good Governance has become the major buzzword in aid policy and development thinking today. The concept is often defined as a political regime based on the model of a liberal democratic polity, which protects human and civil rights, combined with a competent, non-corrupt and accountable public administration.As this book will show, however, Good Governance is not just 'good'. The concept, as advocated by the donor community, often represents an instrumentalist, managerial and technocratic approach to development, aiming at the creation of an environment favourable to the implementation of prescribed economic reforms.By making use of a wide range of in-depth case studies from various developing countries and post-communist states, this book analyses the causes and effects of neoliberal restructuring and the process of depolitisation and conflict that went with it. The contributors critically examine the contradictory nature of the concept of good governance and the consequences that have been seen to go with it.This important book provides a refreshing contribution to the literature on good governance. It will provide an interesting read for those with an interest in economics and development studies as well as being useful to policy makers and non-governmental organizations.
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