Business Views of Democratization in Brazil and Argentina

Year 2015, , 32 - 45, 08.04.2015

Engin Erdem

https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.41782

Abstract

The democratization literature discusses various dynamics of regime change including economic development, social classes, political institutions, political culture and international factors. By examining business behavior in different temporal and spatial contexts, the article expects to enhance our understanding of social dynamics of democratization. This study examines the role of business in political change in Brazil and Argentina. The Brazilian case involves temporal comparisons across the 1961-1964 Goulart period, the 1964-1985 military regime, and the New Republic (1985-1990) The Argentine case, on the other hand, includes three periods: the 1976 coup, 1976-1983 military regime and the post-1983 transition to democracy. This article argues that business, as a pragmatic actor, is a contingent democrat. It could be supporter of both democracy and authoritarian rule on the basis of their interest considerations.  

Keywords

Democratization; Political Regime Change; Business; Democratic Transition; Comparative Case Study; Brazil; Argentina

Brezilya ve Arjantin’de İş Dünyasının Demokratikleşmeye Bakışları

Abstract

Demokratikleşme literatürü siyasal rejim konusunda pek çok dinamikten söz etmektedir; ekonomik kalkınma, sosyal sınıflar, siyasi kurumlar, siyasi kültür ve uluslararası faktörler. Farklı yer ve zamanlarda iş dünyasının siyasi davranışını inceleyen bu makale demokratikleşmenin sosyal dinamiklerini anlaşılmasına katkıda bulunmayı hedeflemektedir. Çalışma Brezilya ve Arjantin’deki iş dünyasının ülkelerindeki siyasi rejim değişikliği sürecindeki rolünü incelemektedir. Bunu yaparken her iki ülkedeki üç farkı döneme bakılmaktadır: Brezilya’da 1961–1964 Goulart dönemi, 1964–1985 askeri rejim dönemi ve 1985–1990 Yeni Cumhuriyet Dönemi; Arjantin’de 1976 darbesi, 1976–1983 askeri rejim dönemi ve 1983 sonrası demokrasiye geçiş dönemi. Çalışmanın temel tezi iş dünyasının faydacı bir aktör olarak şartlı demokrat olduğudur. Çıkar değerlendirmesine göre farklı dönemlerde demokrasinin yanında ya da karşısında olabilmektedir.

Keywords

Demokratikleşme; Siyasi Rejim Değişikliği; İş Dünyası; Demokrasiye Geçiş; Karşılaştırmalı Vaka Çalışması; Brezilya; Arjantin

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