Global Investment and Democratic Politics In Latin America

Abstract

These three essays examine the ways in which the global economy, and multinational firms in particular, provide both opportunities for and constraints on democratic politics in Latin America. While the global economy can provide an impetus for economic reform and oppor- tunities for economic growth, it can also heighten inequality, lead to environmental degra- dation and labor violations, and severely constrain the ability of elected officials to respond to the preferences of domestic actors. The Latin American context, with a long history of international economic integration, resource reliance, and political influence from multi- national corporations, provides an ideal region in which to study the tension between the opportunities and constraints that multinational firms o↵er policymakers in Latin American. The papers examine evidence on the influence of multinational firms on policymaking at the national level (across Latin American countries), sub-national level (across Brazilian federal states), and individual level (the preferences of Brazilian citizens).

In particular, I focus on three mediating factors: 1) how particular institutional features interact with global markets, 2) how particular sectors affect domestic political actors, and 3) how particular countries are integrated into positions of relatively more or less power within global markets. Collectively, these essays provide insight into the ways in which states engage with the global economy and establish that context is essential for understanding the impacts of international economic integration on Latin America policymakers. While states are in many ways constrained by their positions in the global economy and the actions of multinational firms, states also maintain a substantial degree of autonomy to negotiate deals and attract investment that bolsters the ability of policymakers to respond to domestic preferences.