Treating Poorly Healed Wounds: Partisan Choices and Human Rights Policies in Latin America |
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Authors: | Rebecca Evans |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Politics, Ursinus College, 601 Main Street, Collegeville, PA, USA |
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Abstract: | Despite the common trauma of systematic human rights violations under military rule, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay have responded
in markedly different ways to their troubling pasts. This paper explains differences in human rights policies over time and
across countries by looking at varying domestic conditions, including the ideological orientation of the governing party and
the structure of party competition, as well as constraints and opportunities presented by external events. Government support
for human rights derives in part from ideological proclivity but even more from the ability to build popular support for such
a policy. Conservative and center-right politicians lack credibility among voters on human rights and therefore have little
political incentive to adopt an activist stance on this issue. Leftist politicians are ideologically predisposed toward championing
human rights but may be hamstrung by concerns about alienating centrist voters. Leftist politicians will only come out strongly
in favor of human rights when they enjoy a clear political majority; leftist leaders who rely upon centrist allies will adopt
a low-profile approach to human rights. Conversely, centrist political leaders who rely upon leftist allies have a strong
political incentive to emphasize human rights. Once political momentum begins to shift to the right, however, centrist politicians
will downplay human rights. Finally, external events may significantly alter national discourse on human rights, allowing
cautious governments to gain political cover for more progressive human rights policy. By drawing attention to the important
role of ideology and the structure of party competition, this paper offers a more complete explanation of the sources of human
rights policy. It also provides a novel perspective on the ways in which external and international influences are filtered
through national political systems. |
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