Carreras Políticas en América Latina: Discusión teórica y ajuste de supuesto

• Autores: Felipe Botero Jaramillo
• Localización: POSTData: Revista de Reflexión y Análisis Político, ISSN-e 1851-9601, Vol. 16, Nº. 2, 2011
• Idioma: español
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo (pdf)
• Dialnet Métricas: 4 Citas
• Resumen
  • español

    Por inspirarse en el caso de Estados Unidos, el patrón de carrera que se desprende de la literatura sugiere que los políticos aspiran ocupar un cargo en el Congreso y desean reelegirse continuamente. Este modelo teórico no encaja con la dinámica de las carreras en América Latina. El objetivo de este artículo es discutir cómo adecuar y ajustar estos supuestos para explicar las carreras políticas en la región. Tras un análisis de la literatura muestro que los políticos latinoamericanos toman decisiones de carrera con base en cálculos racionales de los beneficios, las probabilidades de alcanzar un cargo y los costos en que incurren. Igualmente señalo que los políticos tienen ambiciones "progresivas". Es decir, buscan cargos más atractivos cuando los beneficios esperados son mayores que los costos. Explico cómo las carreras políticas son jerárquicas por lo que es posible ordenar diferentes cargos -dentro y fuera de la legislatura- de acuerdo con qué tan deseables resultan. En suma, argumento que los políticos latinoamericanos desean que sus carreras progresen. Sin embargo, el progreso no está en donde lo sugiere el modelo canónico de las carreras.

  • English

    Because it is derived from the US case, the literature suggests a model of political careers in which individuals aspire to occupy a congressional seat and wish to be reelected continuously. This model does not fit with the dynamic of careers in Latin America. This article adjusts the literature's assumptions in order to explain political careers in the region. After an analysis of the literature, I show that Latin American politicians make career decisions based on rational calculi of benefits, probabilities of attaining office and costs in which they may incur. Furthermore, I assert that politicians have "progressive" ambitions. That is, they seek higher office when the expected benefits are greater than its costs. I also explain how careers are hierarchical and that it is possible to rank different offices -within and beyond the Legislature- according to how desirable they are for politicians. In sum, I argue that Latin American politicians wish to make their careers progress. However, progress is not where the canonical model of careers suggests.

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