Click here to read an overview of the conference.
Institutions, Accountability, and Democratic Governance in Latin America
One of the most important challenges related to the quality of democracy in Latin America is how to build more effective mechanisms of accountability. Corruption continues to be a problem 'in many countries, of the region; undue executive dominance is another frequent problem. These issues have captured the attention of business, religious, and political Leaders, as well as citizens and scholars.
How can Leaders in Latin America improve government accountability while simultaneously protecting governability? What institutional arrangements and practices have worked particularly well (or badly) at combining the dual objectives of accountability and governability? What conditions Lead politicians to adopt effective institutions of accountability?
A fundamental question for this conference will be whether institutions can be designed to help ameliorate the problems of accountability in the region. Two related components of institutional accountability will be explored: mechanisms of oversight and the classic Madisonian idea of checks balances. By promoting dialogue among participants from different sectors,, the organizers also hope to identify policy recommendations aimed at strengthening democratic accountability and effective governance in Latin America.
The first part of the conference will be devoted to discussing commissioned papers, with commentary provided by scholars and practitioners. During the second part of the conference practitioners will discuss their experiences, observations, and policy recommendations.
Conference Schedule
Co-Chairs
Scott Mainwaring and Christopher Welna
Kellogg Institute for International Studies
University of Notre Dame
Monday, May 8
9:00 am
Welcome and Introduction
9:15 am - 10:15 am
General Issues of Horizontal Accountability
Chair
Scott Mainwaring, University of Notre Dame
Author
Guillermo O'Donnell, University of Notre Dame
Discussants
Luis Pásara, UN Mission, Guatemala City
Susan Stokes, University of Chicago
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Legislatures, Horizontal Accountability, and Democracy
Chair
Martha Merritt, University of Notre Dame
Authors
Argelina Figueiredo, University of Campinas and CEBRAP, São Paulo
Scott Morgenstern and Luigi Manzetti, Duke University
David Samuels, University of Minnesota
Discussants
Joy Moncrieffe, London School of Economics
Ignacio Walker, National Congress of Chile
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Civil Society and Horizontal Accountability
Chair
Margaret Sarles, USAID, Washington, DC
Authors
Jonathan Fox, University of California, Santa Cruz
Catalina Smulovitz and Enrique Peruzzotti, University Di Tella, Buenos Aires
Discussants
Frances Hagopian, University of Notre Dame
Viviana Krsticevic, CEJIL, Washington, DC
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Presidentialism, Party Systems, and Horizontal Accountability
Chair
Gretchen Helmke, University of Chicago
Authors
Charles Kenney, University of Oklahoma
Matthew Shugart, University of California, San Diego
Discussants
Sergio Bitar, National Congress of Chile
Michael Coppedge, University of Notre Dame
Tuesday, May 9
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Judiciaries, Horizontal Accountability, and Democracy
Chair
Christopher Welna, University of Notre Dame
Authors
Michael Dodson and Donald Jackson, Texas Christian University
Beatriz Magaloni (see also Tables), Stanford University and ITAM, Mexico City
Maria Tereza Sadek, IDESP, São Paulo
Discussants
Pilar Domingo, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London
Juan Méndez, University of Notre Dame
11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Round Table
Civil Society, Ombudspersons, and Innovations in Horizontal Accountability
Chair
Steven Levitsky, Harvard University
Presenters
Mariclaire Acosta, Mexican Commission for Human Rights
Margaret Sarles, USAID, Washington, DC
Jorge Santistevan, Office of the Ombudsman, Lima
(Wallstreet Journal Article: "In Peru, One Man Stands by the Side Of the Average Guy")
Discussants
Jonathan Fox, University of California, Santa Cruz
Catalina Smulovitz, University Di Tella, Buenos Aires
12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
Lunch
2:15 pm - 4:00 pm
Round Table
Legislatures, Judiciaries, and Innovations in Horizontal Accountability
Chair
Beatriz Magaloni, Stanford University
Presenters
Adolfo Aguilar, National Congress of Mexico
Marcos Pimentel Tamassia, Association of Judges for Democracy, São Paulo
Lourdes Flores, National Congress of Peru
Juan Méndez, University of Notre Dame
Discussants
Guillermo O'Donnell, University of Notre Dame
Matthew Shugart, University of California, San Diego
5:30 pm
Notre Dame Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America
Presentation of award to
Enrique V. Iglesias, President, Inter-American Development Bank
