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Okay, my commentary on the IACtHR ruling… First, this continues the Court's move to make dramatic Latin America-wide changes on issues of public debate.On twitter.com
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The majority's arguments regarding accumulation of power (1), capture of the judiciary (4) and electoral advantage (5) are all born out by experience.Permalink On twitter.com
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But I'm less convinced by the idea that rotation of political parties is either necessary or all that helpful in preserving democratic space. Colombia's alternancia and the US duopolies of the post-bellum and Cold War-era undermine this.Permalink On twitter.com
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We need to consider the dangers of a two- or multi-party consensus that disenfranchises others. Such as Black US citizens between 1870 and 1965. Indigenous Bolivians until 1998.Permalink On twitter.com
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And in countries where there was a long-disenfranchised numerical majority—such as Bolivia or South Africa—we need to consider the likelihood of a large hegemonic national party in power for many terms.Permalink On twitter.com
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In that case, rotation and succession within the hegemonic party are more important. Presidential term limits help some, but not enough with this problem. Separation of powers remains at risk when one party stays in power for an extended time.Permalink On twitter.com
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More dramatically, the president and those close to him gain extraordinary and unbalanced power within the governing party. That has been a huge liability in Bolivia and South Africa. And applies even within the first term.Permalink On twitter.com
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Even a party with a strong ethic of decentralization and subordination of party to movement proved unable to resist this centralizing dynamic. Much more thought needs to go into how to counterbalance the leverage gained by those who hold national executive office.Permalink On twitter.com