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The Tools of Institutional Change under Post-Neoliberalism: Rafael Correa's Ecuador

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2018

Francisco Sánchez  and
John Polga-Hecimovich Open the ORCID record for John Polga-Hecimovich [Opens in a new window]
Francisco Sánchez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Salamanca
John Polga-Hecimovich*
Affiliation:
US Naval Academy
*
*Corresponding author. Email: polgahec@usna.edu
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Abstract

How have governments in Latin America been able to counteract two decades of neoliberalism and pursue post-neoliberal developmental reforms, and what tools have they used to do so? We argue that post-neoliberal projects are possible through the use of three necessary conditions in a context of economic bonanza: (1) extensive use of the legal-constitutional framework to facilitate interventionism; (2) an increase in the centrality of public planning agencies to design those policies; and (3) growth of the bureaucracy to implement the policies. Through a case study of Rafael Correa's Ecuador, we show how a constituent assembly, empowerment of the state planning agency, and an increase in the size of the public administration allowed the president to combat neoliberalism and pursue his ambitious Buen Vivir (Good Living) plan. This simple framework offers important clues for understanding post-liberalism and the return of the state in Ecuador and beyond.

Spanish abstract

¿Cómo han podido gobiernos de América Latina contrarrestar dos décadas de neoliberalismo y adoptar reformas desarrollistas post-neoliberales, y qué herramientas han usado para logarlo? Sostenemos que los proyectos post-neoliberales son posibles gracias a tres condiciones necesarias en un contexto de bonanza económica: (1) el uso extensivo del marco legal-constitucional para facilitar el intervencionismo; (2) un incremento en la centralidad de las agencias de planeación pública para diseñar estas políticas; y (3) el crecimiento de la burocracia para implementar las políticas. A través del caso de estudio del Ecuador de Rafael Correa, mostramos cómo una asamblea constituyente, junto al empoderamiento de la agencia de planificación estatal y un incremento en el tamaño de la administración pública, han permitido al presidente combatir el neoliberalismo y perseguir su ambicioso plan del Buen Vivir. Este simple marco ofrece pistas importantes para el entendimiento del post-liberalismo y el retorno del Estado en Ecuador y otras partes.

Portuguese abstract

Como os governos da América Latina foram capazes de neutralizar duas décadas de neoliberalismo e buscar reformas de desenvolvimento pós-neoliberais? E de quais ferramentas eles se utilizaram para tal? Argumentamos que projetos pós-neoliberais são possíveis através do uso de três condições necessárias num contexto de bonança econômica: (1) uso extenso de um quadro legal e constitucional que facilite o intervencionismo; (2) um aumento na centralidade de agências de planejamento público para que se criem essas políticas; (3) aumento da burocracia para implementar estas políticas. Através de um estudo de caso do Equador de Rafael Correa, demonstramos como a assembléia constitucional, o empoderamento da agência de planejamento do Estado e o aumento no tamanho da administração pública permitiram que o presidente combatesse o neoliberalismo e avançasse seu ambicioso plano Buen Vivir (Bom Viver). Esse quadro simples mostra indícios importantes no entendimento do pós-neoliberalismo e o retorno do Estado no Equador e além.

Keywords

Post-NeoliberalismRafael Correastate reformbuen vivirEcuadorpost-neoliberalismoRafael Correareforma estatalbuen vivirEcuadorpós-neoliberalismoRafael Correareforma do Estadobuen vivirEquador
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Latin American Studies , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , May 2019 , pp. 379 - 408
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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