The Unfinished Transition to Democracy in Latin America (Latin American Studies: Social Sciences and Law)

This book examines the political evolution of the judiciary — a usually overlooked political actor — and its capacity to contribute to the process of democratic consolidation in Latin America during the 1990s. Calleros analyzes twelve countries in order to assess the independence, impartiality, political strength and efficiency of the judicial branch. The picture that emerges — with the one exception of Costa Rica — is the persistence of weak judicial systems, unable in practice to check other branches of government, including the executive and the military, while not quite effective in fully protecting human rights or in implementing due process of law guarantees. Aggravating issues, such as corruption, heavy case backlogs, overcrowding of prisons, circumvention of laws and personal vulnerability of judges, make the judiciary the least evolved of the three branches of government in the Latin American transitions to democracy. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Figures......Page 11 Tables......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 15 Acknowledgments......Page 17 Introduction......Page 19 1 Democracy and the Rule of Law: A Theoretical Framework......Page 27 2 The (Un)Rule of Law in Latin America: A Weak Arena of Democratic Consolidation......Page 50 3 Judicial Reforms in Latin America: Towards More Independent, Efficient and Impartial Judiciaries in the Region......Page 66 4 Assessing Judicial Independence in Latin America During the 1990s......Page 87 5 The Judiciary’s Capacity to Check the Executive in Latin America During the 1990s......Page 105 6 The Judiciary’s Capacity to Bring the Military to Account in Latin America......Page 132 7 Judicial Systems’ Ability to Protect Human Rights in the New Democracies of Latin America......Page 154 8 Corruption, Inefficiency and Violence in Latin American Court Systems......Page 177 9 Conclusions......Page 198 Appendix 1......Page 207 Appendix 2......Page 211 Notes......Page 213 Bibliography......Page 231 Index......Page 243 Interdisciplinary Studies Book Cover 1 Title 5 Copyright 6 Dedication 7 Contents 9 Figures 11 Tables 13 Abbreviations 15 Acknowledgments 17 Introduction 19 1 Democracy and the Rule of Law: A Theoretical Framework 27 2 The (Un)Rule of Law in Latin America: A Weak Arena of Democratic Consolidation 50 3 Judicial Reforms in Latin America: Towards More Independent, Efficient and Impartial Judiciaries in the Region 66 4 Assessing Judicial Independence in Latin America During the 1990s 87 5 The Judiciary’s Capacity to Check the Executive in Latin America During the 1990s 105 6 The Judiciary’s Capacity to Bring the Military to Account in Latin America 132 7 Judicial Systems’ Ability to Protect Human Rights in the New Democracies of Latin America 154 8 Corruption, Inefficiency and Violence in Latin American Court Systems 177 9 Conclusions 198 Appendix 1 207 Appendix 2 211 Notes 213 Bibliography 231 Index 243 Democracy and the rule of law : a theoretical framework The (un) rule of law in Latin America : a weak arena of democratic consolidation Judicial reforms in Latin America : towards more independent, efficient and impartial judiciaries in the region Assessing judicial independence in Latin America during the 1990s The judiciary's capacity to check the executive in Latin America during the 1990s The judiciary's capacity to bring the military to account in Latin America Judicial systems' ability to protect human rights in the new democracies of Latin America Corruption, inefficiency and violence in Latin American court systems Conclusions.