1. Political Culture in Latin America
Homo Políticus
Friendship
Democracy

3. Goal of Homo Políticus
ASCENDENT POWER

4. What is Ascendent Power?
Everyday wants must be satisfied
People referents and social skills
Tangibly expressed in power
Religious cornerstone
Would-be heroes must incur giant risk

5. Currency of Homo Políticus
FRIENDSHIP

6. What is Friendship? Friends are considered social tender
Prestige is necessary to attract “friends”
Friendship does not necessarily imply private affection

7. Benefits of Friendship
Rational friendship provides resources that lead to public ascendancy
Friendship is power
Power needs to be displayed in order for it to be validated

8. CORPORATISM AS AN EXPRESSION OF FRIENDSHIP
“Friends” become more important than nation
Extended family as “friends”
Institution of compadrasco
Political expression

9. CORPORATISM AS AN EXPRESSION OF FRIENDSHIP
Interest groups (as they are though of in the United States & Western Europe) as “friends”
Primary socio-political identifications is with your circle of “friends”

10. Examples of corporate institutions in Latin American politics
Church
Guild/Colegio
Business associations
Political parties (especially of left)

11. Lack of “Friendships”: Consequences
Struggle for ascendancy will be pervasive, all-consuming, and frequently vicious

12. Concern with “Friendship” meshes nicely with Rousseau’s concept of democracy
Contract theory – challenges divine right of kings perspective
Idea of the “general will”
Human being can only live up to her/his potential when she/he participates in political life

13. Rousseau: Democracy and Human Nature
Natural goodness (noble savage)
Education to break chains of tradition
Leads to faith in the power of government and orientation to use that power to set human nature free
Little concern with abuse of power once the “right” people are in control

14. Lockean Democracy Most associated with the English-speaking world
Locke also a contract theorist
Less optimistic than Rousseau regarding the nature of man

15. More Lockean Democracy
Individual and natural rights inalienable
Rights can only be assured by checking and balancing the powerful
More concern than Rousseau with problem of government abuse of power

16. Differences Between LOCKEAN & ROUSSEAN VIEWS OF DEMOCRACY OFTEN LEAD
GRINGOS & LATIN AMERICANS
TO TALK PAST EACH OTHER