Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T10:47:14.309Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Paradoxes of Police Reform: Federalism, Parties, and Civil Society in Argentina's Public Security Crisis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

Kent Eaton
Kent Eaton*
Affiliation:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This article focuses on three central impediments to police reform in Argentina, each of which has generated an important, yet distinct, paradox. First, although advocates of federalism argue that police reform facilitates innovation, in practice, reform efforts at one level of government in Argentina have been sabotaged by officials at other levels of government. Second, although electoral pressures have pushed police reform onto the policy agenda, these same pressures have also obstructed reform efforts because politicians depend on illicit party-police networks for campaign financing. Third, despite copious evidence of police involvement in criminal acts, Argentina's crime wave has energized conservative civil society groups whose demand for a heavy-handed response to crime has derailed the most promising attempts to restructure the police force.

Resumo

Resumo

Este ensayo se centra en tres impedimentos centrales a la reforma de la policía en Argentina. Cada uno de ellos ha generado paradojas importantes pero diferentes entre sí. Primero, aunque los defensores del federalismo afirman que éste favorece la innovación, en la práctica los esfuerzos realizados en un nivel del gobierno para reformar a la policía han sido saboteados en los otros. Segundo, las presiones electorales, si bien han llevado la reforma de la policía al centro de la agenda política, también han retrasado los esfuerzos para reformarla, pues los políticos dependen de redes ilícitas de policía, vinculadas a los partidos, para financiar sus campañas. Tercero, pese a existir evidencia que involucra a la policía en actos criminales, la ola de crimen en Argentina ha fortalecido las demandas de grupos de derecha de la sociedad civil para una respuesta de mano dura frente al crimen, lo que ha retrasado los intentos más prometedores de reestructuración.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 43 , Issue 3 , 2008 , pp. 5 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 by the University of Texas Press

Footnotes

*

For helpful comments on earlier versions of this article, I would like to thank Desmond Arias, Daniel Brinks, Miguel de Figueiredo, Jodi Finkel, Candelaria Garay, Maiah Jaskoski, Eric Jensen, Deborah Norden, Kathryn Stoner-Weiss, Murray Tanner, Harold Trinkunas, Allen Weiner, Deborah Yashar, and three anonymous reviewers at the Latin American Research Review. I am also grateful to the Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law at Stanford University for the opportunity to present this research.

References

Ackerman, Susan Rose 1980 “Risk-taking and Re-election: Does Federalism Promote Innovation?” Journal of Legal Studies 9:593–616.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ales, Cecilia 2005 Personal interview by the author with research analyst, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, May 31, Buenos Aires.Google Scholar
Andersen, Martin 2002 La policía. Buenos Aires: Editorial Sudamericana.Google Scholar
Annicchiarico, Ciro 2002 Seguridad/inseguridad: Problemática bonaerense. Buenos Aires: Némesis.Google Scholar
Arceneaux, Craig 2001 Bounded Missions. University Park, PA: Penn State University Press.Google Scholar
Auyero, Javier 2006 “The Political Makings of the 2001 Lootings in Argentina.” Journal of Latin American Studies 38:241–265.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bailey, John, and Dammert, Lucia, eds. 2006 Public Security and Police Reform in the Americas. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.Google Scholar
Barahona de Brito, Alexandra 1997 Human Rights and Democratization in Latin America: Uruguay and Chile. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
BBC News 2005 “Argentina y la inseguridad,” April 1 (accessed February 11, 2008, at http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_4400000/4400099.stm).Google Scholar
Binder, Alberto 2004 Policías y ladrones: La inseguridad en cuestión. Buenos Aires: Capital Intelectual.Google Scholar
Bouvard, Marguerite 1994 Revolutionizing Motherhood. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources.Google Scholar
Breton, Andre 2000 “Federalism and Decentralization.” Publius: The Journal of Federalism 30:1–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brinks, Daniel 2003 “Informal Institutions and the Rule of Law: The Judicial Response to State Killings in Buenos Aires and São Paulo in the 1990s.” Comparative Politics 36:1–19.Google Scholar
Brysk, Alison 1994 The Politics of Human Rights in Argentina. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Call, Charles 2002 “War Transitions and the New Civilian Security in Latin America.” Comparative Politics 35 (October): 1–20.Google Scholar
Candina, Azun 2004 “The Institutional Identity of the Carabineros.” In Public Security and Police Reform in the Americas, edited by Bailey, John and Dammert, Lucia, 75–93. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.Google Scholar
Carreras, Sergio 2004 El reino de los Juárez: Medio siglo de miseria, terror y desmesura en Santiago del Estero. Buenos Aires: Aguilar.Google Scholar
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales 2004a Políticas de seguridad ciudadana y justicia penal. Buenos Aires: Siglo Veintiuno.Google Scholar
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales 2004b Derechos humanos en Argentina: Informe 2004. Buenos Aires: Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales.Google Scholar
Chevigny, Paul 1995 The Edge of the Knife: Police Violence in the Americas. New York: The New Press.Google Scholar
Chillier, Gastón 1998 “La sanción de un código de convivencia urbana.” In Documentos de trabajo: Seminario sobre reformas policiales en Argentina, 5–36. Buenos Aires: Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales.Google Scholar
Clarín 2003 “Kirchner le apuntó a la Bonaerense por la ola de secuestros.” October 31.Google Scholar
Clarín 2004 “Casi todas las leyes reclamadas por Blumberg ya fueron aprobadas.” August 22.Google Scholar
Clarín 2006a “Blumberg llenó media plaza.” September 1.Google Scholar
Clarín 2006b “Poca gente y algunas diferencias en la‘contramarcha’ del Obelisco.” September 1.Google Scholar
Davis, Diane 2006 “Undermining the Rule of Law: Democratization and the Dark Side of Police Reform in Mexico.” Latin American Politics and Society 48 (1): 55–86.Google Scholar
De Mesquita Neto, Paulo 2004 “Partnerships for Police Reform in Brazil.” In Public Security and Police Reform in the Americas, edited by Bailey, John and Dammert, Lucia, 44–57. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.Google Scholar
Dellasoppa, Emilio, and Saint'Clair, Zoraira 2004 “Brazil's Public Security Plans.” In Public Security and Police Reform in the Americas, edited by Bailey, John and Dammert, Lucia, 24–43. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.Google Scholar
Dirección Nacional de Política Criminal 2000 Informe anual de estadísticas policiales. Buenos Aires: Dirección Nacional de Política Criminal.Google Scholar
Dútil, Carlos, and Ragendorfer, Ricardo 1997 La Bonaerense: Historia criminal de la policía de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires: Planeta.Google Scholar
Eaton, Kent 2001 “Decentralization, Democratization, and Liberalization: The History of Revenue Sharing in Argentina.” Journal of Latin American Studies 33 (1): 1–28.Google Scholar
Eaton, Kent 2004 Politics beyond the Capital: The Design of Subnational Institutions in South America. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Economist 2004 “The Battle for Safer Streets.” October 2.Google Scholar
Fitch, John Samuel 1997 The Armed Forces and Democracy in Latin America. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Fohrig, Alberto 2005 Personal interview by the author with ex-chief of the cabinet of advisers in the Ministry of the Interior, Universidad de San Andrés, May 23, Victoria.Google Scholar
Fohrig, Alberto, and Pomares, Julia 2004 “La reforma policial desde las teorías del cambio institucional.” In Participación ciudadana y reformas a la policía en América del sur, edited by Fruhling, Hugo and Candina, Azun. Santiago: Centro de Estudios para el Desarrollo.Google Scholar
Hugo, Fruhling, and Tulchin, Joseph, eds. 2003 Crime and Violence in Latín America. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center Press.Google Scholar
Fuentes, Claudio 2005 Contesting the Iron Fist: Advocacy Networks and Police Violence in Democratic Argentina and Chile. New York:-Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, Edward 1997 Class and Conservative Parties: Argentina in Comparative Perspective. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Gibson, Edward 2005 “Boundary Control: Subnational Authoritarianism in Democratic Countries.” World Politics 58 (1): 101–132.Google Scholar
Hinton, Mercedes 2006 The State on the Streets: Police and Politics in Argentina and Brazil. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huggins, Martha 1997 Political Policing: The United States and Latin America. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.Google Scholar
Hunter, Wendy 1997 Eroding Military Influence in Brazil. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina.Google Scholar
Isacson, Adam, Olson, Joy, and Haugaard, Lisa 2004 Blurring the Lines: Trends in U.S. Military Programs with Latin America. Washington, DC: Washington Office on Latin America.Google Scholar
Kalmanowiecki, Laura 2000 “Origins and Applications of Political Policing in Argentina.” Latin American Perspectives 27 (2): 36–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klipphan, Andrés 2004 Asuntos internos: Las mafias policiales contadas desde adentro. Buenos Aires: Aguilar.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004a “Critican a Arslanian por la policía comunal.” August 13.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004b “Intendentes enfrentados por el nuevo plan.” April 12.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004c “La relación del Presidente con Solá está quebrada desde hace tiempo.” June 9.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004d “Los policías concursarán cargos y serán evaluados por los vecinos.” May 11.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004e “Nuevo cruce de críticas entre Arslanian y Blumberg.” October 11.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004f “Opositores critican al PJ por el manejo del debate en Diputados.” April 8.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004g “Reclama de Solá al Gobierno.” August 17.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004h “Renovado clamor: Más seguridad.” August 27.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004i “Reuniones por la policía comunitaria.” November 13.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004j “Se profundiza la pelea entre Arslanian y Blumberg.” August 28.Google Scholar
La Nación 2004k “Trabas legales para la reforma policial.” April 12, 2004.Google Scholar
La Nación 2005 “El Ministro Arslanian puso el dedo en la llaga de los políticos.” April 8.Google Scholar
Latin American Weekly Report 2004 “Collusion Trail Leads to Federal Police.” April 20.Google Scholar
Levitsky, Steven 2001 “An Organized Disorganization.” Journal of Latin American Studies 33:29–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
López-Montiel, Angel 2000 “The Military, Political Power and Police Relations in Mexico City.” Latin American Perspectives 27 (2): 79–94.Google Scholar
McSherry, J. Patrice 1997 Incomplete Transition: Military Power and Democracy in Argentina. New York: St. Martin's Press.Google Scholar
Navarro, Marysa 1989 “The Personal Is Political: Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo.” In Power and Popular Protest, edited by Eckstein, Susan, 241–258. Berkeley: University of California.Google Scholar
Nino, Carlos 1996 Radical Evil on Trial. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Norden, Deborah 1996 Military Reform in Argentina: Between Coups and Consolidation. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.Google Scholar
Oates, Wallace 1999 “An Essay on Fiscal Federalism.” Journal of Economic Literature 38 (3): 1120–1149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Donnell, Guillermo, Cullell, Jorge Vargas, and Iazzetta, Osvaldo M. 2004 The Quality of Democracy: Theory and Applications. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.Google Scholar
Oxhorn, Philip 1995 Organizing Civil Society: The Popular Sectors and the Struggle for Democracy in Chile. University Park, PA: Penn State University Press.Google Scholar
Pereira, Anthony, and Davis, Diane, eds. 2000 “Violence, Coercion and Rights in the Americas.” Special issue, Latin American Perspectives 27 (2).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pereira, Anthony, and Ungar, Mark 2004 “The Persistence of the Mano Dura: Authoritarian Legacies and Policing in Brazil and the Southern Cone.” In Authoritarian Legacies and Democracy in Latin America and Southern Europe, edited by Hite, Katherine and Cesarini, Paola, 263–304. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.Google Scholar
Pion-Berlin, David 1997 Through Corridors of Power. University Park, PA: Penn State University Press.Google Scholar
Pion-Berlin, David 2005 “Political Management of the Military in Latin America.” Military Review 85 (January/February): 19–34.Google Scholar
Ragendorfer, Ricardo 2002 La secta del gatillo. Buenos Aires: Planeta.Google Scholar
Riker, William 1964 Federalism: Origin, Operation, Significance. Boston: Little, Brown.Google Scholar
Rosúa, Fernando 1998 La reforma policial en la provincia de Santa Fé. Buenos Aires: Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales.Google Scholar
Rowland, Alison 2004 “Local Responses to Public Security in Mexico.” In Public Security and Police Reform in the Americas, edited by Bailey, John and Dammert, Lucia, 187–204. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.Google Scholar
Saez, Gerardo Strada 2005 Personal interview by the author with dean, Escuela Nacional de Inteligencia, May 30, Buenos Aires.Google Scholar
Saín, Marcelo 2002 Seguridad, democracia y reforma del sistema policial en la Argentina. Buenos Aires: Fondo de Cultura Económica.Google Scholar
Saín, Marcelo 2004 Política, policía y delito: La red Bonaerense. Buenos Aires: Capital Intelectual.Google Scholar
Saín, Marcelo 2005 Personal interview by the author with civil intervener of the Airport Security Service, May 31, Ezeiza.Google Scholar
Sánchez, Fernando 2005 Personal interview by the author with staffer on the Security Committee in the Chamber of Deputies, May 19, Buenos Aires.Google Scholar
Smulovitz, Catalina 2003 “Citizen Insecurity and Fear in Argentina.” In Crime and Violence in Latin America: Citizen Security, Democracy and the State, edited by Fruhling, Hugo and Tulchin, Joseph, 125–152. Washington, DC: Woodrow Wilson Center Press.Google Scholar
Tanner, Murray 2000 “Will the State Bring You Back In? Policing and Democratization.” Comparative Politics 33 (October): 101–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tiscornia, Sofia 2004 “Entre el imperio del 'Estado de policía7 y los límites del derecho.” Nueva Sociedad 191 (May/June): 78–90.Google Scholar
Trinkunas, Harold 2005 Crafting Civilian Control of the Military in Venezuela: A Comparative Perspective. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ungar, Mark 2002 . Elusive Reform: Democracy and the Rule of Law in Latin America. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.Google Scholar
Vallespir, Alejandra 2002 La policía que supimos conseguir. Buenos Aires: Planeta.Google Scholar
Villareal, Andrés 2002 “Political Competition and Violence in Mexico.” American Sociological Review 67:477–498.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

A correction has been issued for this article:

Correction