On DEPENDENT DEMOCRACY by Eduardo Enriquez Arévalo

Enríquez Arévalo, Eduardo (2024). "Towards a theory of dependent democracy". Thesis Eleven , 180 (1), 72-91. https://doi.org/10.1177/07255136231202057

What is the concept of dependent democracy by eduardo enríquez arévalo about? by DeepSeek (02/2025)

The concept of "dependent democracy" by Eduardo Enríquez Arévalo is a theoretical framework designed to explain the limitations and failures of democratic systems in the Global South, particularly in the context of global hierarchies, economic dependency, and neo-imperialism. Drawing on Dependency Theory and integrating insights from critical political sociology and international political economy, Enríquez Arévalo argues that democracies in the Global South are shaped by their subordinate position within a global capitalist order, which undermines their ability to ensure political participation and economic inclusion for the majority of their populations.

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Key Elements of Dependent Democracy

1. Subaltern Position in the Global Order:

   • Dependent democracies exist in a hierarchical global system dominated by core (wealthy) nations, international institutions (e.g., IMF, World Bank), and multinational corporations.

   • This subaltern position limits their sovereignty and autonomy, making them vulnerable to external economic and political pressures.

2. Economic Dependency:

   • The economies of dependent democracies are often characterized by low industrialization, reliance on foreign investment, and dominance of the informal sector. This creates a large, politically marginalized population that is excluded from meaningful economic participation.

   • Neoliberal policies imposed by international financial institutions exacerbate inequality and weaken the state's capacity to provide public goods.

3. Oligarchic Tendencies:

   • Despite formal democratic institutions, these systems tend to function as oligarchies, where political power is concentrated in the hands of wealthy elites—both domestic and international.

   • Public officeholders often prioritize the interests of the wealthy and powerful, rather than the broader population.

4. Global Pyramid of Power:

   • Enríquez Arévalo proposes a global pyramid of power, with core, semi-periphery, periphery, and outer periphery states. The lower a country is in this hierarchy, the more dependent and oligarchic its democracy tends to be.

   • This framework highlights the unequal distribution of power in the global system and its impact on democratic governance.

5. Neo-Imperialism:

   • The concept emphasizes the role of neo-imperial interventions by Northern powers and institutions, which shape the political and economic structures of dependent democracies.

   • This includes the influence of multinational corporations, foreign aid, and military interventions, which often prioritize stability and economic interests over democratic participation.

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Theoretical Foundations

Enríquez Arévalo's concept of dependent democracy builds on and adapts several theoretical traditions:

1. Dependency Theory:

   • Originally developed in Latin America in the 1960s–1970s, Dependency Theory explains how peripheral economies are structurally dependent on core nations, leading to underdevelopment and inequality.

   • Enríquez Arévalo extends this framework to the political realm, arguing that democratic systems in the Global South are similarly constrained by global dependencies.

2. World Systems Theory:

   • This theory, developed by Immanuel Wallerstein, analyzes the global capitalist system as a hierarchy of core, semi-periphery, and periphery states.

   • Enríquez Arévalo incorporates this perspective to explain the global pyramid of power and its impact on democracy.

3. Critical Political Sociology:

   • The concept integrates insights from critical approaches to political sociology, which emphasize the role of power, inequality, and global structures in shaping political systems.

4. Critique of Mainstream Political Science:

   • Enríquez Arévalo critiques mainstream theories of democracy (e.g., liberal pluralism, behavioralism) for their methodological nationalism—ignoring the global and structural factors that shape democratic systems in the Global South.

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Implications of Dependent Democracy

1. Democratic Erosion:

   • The concept explains why many democracies in the Global South fail to deliver meaningful political participation or economic inclusion, leading to widespread disillusionment and political apathy.

2. Global Inequality:

   • It highlights the structural inequalities of the global capitalist order, which perpetuate dependency and undermine democratic governance in the Global South.

3. Critique of Neoliberalism:

   • The framework critiques the role of neoliberal policies in exacerbating inequality and weakening democratic institutions.

4. Call for Structural Change:

   • Enríquez Arévalo's theory calls for addressing the root causes of dependency, such as global power imbalances and economic inequality, as a prerequisite for genuine democratization.

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Conclusion

Eduardo Enríquez Arévalo's concept of dependent democracy provides a critical lens for understanding the challenges faced by democratic systems in the Global South. By emphasizing the role of global hierarchies, economic dependency, and neo-imperialism, the framework challenges mainstream narratives and calls for a more nuanced understanding of democracy in a globalized world. It highlights the need to address structural inequalities and power imbalances to achieve meaningful democratic governance.