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Research and write a policy memo evaluating the state of democracy in Argentina. The memo should be about 2,500 words or 10 pages long (double-spaced).

Assess the quality of democracy in Argentina based on the framework developed by Levine and Molina (2011), which evaluates five criteria: electoral decision, participation, responsiveness, accountability, and sovereignty. Begin with a brief background of Argentina’s political history and main issues, referencing Skidmore, Smith, and Green (2010). Familiarize yourself with recent political developments by reviewing articles from the Journal of Democracy, Current History, and news sources such as Latin American Weekly Report from the last decade and the past two years.

Judge Argentina's democracy in terms of Green’s color-coded categories: Green (good), Yellow (some dangers), Red (serious problems). Your assessment should include:

• Electoral Decision: Examine the fairness, frequency, and competitiveness of elections and civil rights.
• Participation: Analyze voter turnout, civil society activity, protests, and social organizations’ influence.
• Responsiveness: Assess how well the government addresses public issues and responds to protests and mobilizations.
• Accountability: Investigate the control and sanctions for public officials, corruption scandals, and the role of independent agencies.
• Sovereignty: Evaluate Argentina’s economic independence, influence of foreign debt, foreign remittances, military role, and organized crime impact.

Using these evaluations, assign scores to each criterion, sum them for an overall democracy quality score, and provide a justification for these ratings.

Finally, propose a single, concrete policy recommendation to improve Argentina’s democracy based on your findings, justifying why it is the most impactful measure.

Paper For Above instruction

Title: Assessing the Democratic Fabric of Argentina: A Comprehensive Audit of Political Quality

Introduction

This policy memo examines the current state of democracy in Argentina, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses based on Levine and Molina’s (2011) framework. The focus is on five core criteria: electoral decision, participation, responsiveness, accountability, and sovereignty. Argentina’s democratic journey has been marked by oscillations between reform and crisis, reflecting the complex interplay of historical legacies, economic challenges, and political institutions. This assessment aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the country’s democratic quality and recommend strategies to strengthen its democratic resilience.

Background and Political History

Argentina transitioned to democracy in 1983 after a brutal military dictatorship, establishing a framework rooted in free elections and civil liberties. However, its democratic consolidation has faced recurrent hurdles such as economic volatility, populist politics, and institutional weaknesses. The 2001 economic crisis severely tested democratic institutions, leading to political upheavals and reforms. Indigenous rights, corruption scandals, and uneven justice enforcement have also punctuated recent years, impacting public trust (Skidmore, Smith, & Green, 2010). Despite these issues, electoral participation remains high, reflecting citizens’ enduring engagement with democratic processes. Understanding this historical backdrop is essential in contextualizing Argentina’s contemporary democratic strengths and challenges.

Electoral Decision

Argentina’s elections are generally free, fair, and competitive, with high voter turnout often exceeding 80%. Electoral integrity is bolstered by an independent electoral commission, and multiple parties participate robustly in presidential, legislative, and local elections. However, electoral manipulation and allegations of vote-buying have occasionally surfaced, and concerns about media influence and political polarization persist (LAWR 02/24/19). Recent campaigns have seen debates on economic policies, corruption, and social justice, but some irregularities persist, partly due to institutional weaknesses. Overall, electoral decision qualifies as 'Yellow,' indicating some danger but a fundamentally legitimate electoral process.

Participation

Voter turnout in Argentina remains high, demonstrating strong citizen engagement. Participation extends beyond voting, with active civil society organizations, protests, and social movements influencing policy debates. Recent protests against austerity measures and corruption highlight the population’s willingness to mobilize for change (Latin American Weekly Report, 2021). Political parties are well-established, yet media polarization hampers consensus-building. The social fabric is vibrant, but political exclusion and inequality sometimes limit meaningful participation for marginalized groups, placing this criterion in the 'Yellow' zone.

Responsiveness

Government responsiveness to public concerns has been mixed. While electoral mandates give governments legitimacy, their ability to enact policies aligning with public priorities varies. Recent administrations have prioritized economic reforms, but protests indicate dissatisfaction with poverty, inequality, and corruption. The administration’s response to social unrest tends to be cautious, occasionally repressive, and at times dismissive, which diminishes trust (LAWR 03/15/2022). Campaign promises around social justice and economic stability often remain unfulfilled, reflecting moderate responsiveness categorized as 'Yellow.'

Accountability

Accountability mechanisms are present but imperfect. Argentina has independent judiciary and anti-corruption bodies, yet corruption scandals involving high-ranking officials regularly surface, undermining trust (Transparency International, 2022). Political and media pressures sometimes impair investigative independence, and judicial delays hinder accountability. Popular protests and media investigations serve as informal controls. The situation suggests a 'Yellow' rating, with significant progress required to eliminate corruption and strengthen independent oversight.

Sovereignty

Argentina’s sovereignty is challenged primarily by high foreign debt, economic dependency on commodity exports, and influence from international financial institutions. The country’s debt burden remains burdensome, constraining policy options (LAWR 01/28/2022). Additionally, the dependence on remittances and external investment makes its economy vulnerable to global market shocks. Political influence from foreign powers, while limited militarily, persists economically and diplomatically. The military plays a passive role, but organized crime impacts security, complicating governance. Overall, sovereignty is rated 'Yellow,' with vulnerabilities stemming from economic dependence and external influences.

Overall Assessment and Score

Based on the evaluations, Argentina exhibits partial democratic health, with strengths in electoral participation but weaknesses in accountability and sovereignty. The overall democracy score is approximately 2.8 out of 5, indicating moderate democratic quality with notable areas needing reform.

Policy Recommendation

The most impactful policy measure to enhance Argentina’s democratic quality is to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and judicial independence. Implementing comprehensive anti-corruption legislation, empowering judiciary and oversight bodies, and ensuring transparency in public procurement can dramatically improve accountability. Reduced corruption enhances trust, encourages political stability, and affirms sovereignty by reducing external influence. This targeted reform supports sustainable democratic deepening, addressing core weaknesses identified during the assessment. Prioritizing judicial integrity could thus serve as a catalyst for broader democratic renewal in Argentina.

References

• LAWR (Latin American Weekly Report). Various issues 2020-2022.
• Skidmore, Thomas E., Peter H. Smith, and James N. Green. 2010. Modern Latin America. 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Levine, Daniel M., and Jose Molina, editors. 2011. The Quality of Democracy in Latin America. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
• Transparency International. 2022. Corruption Perceptions Index.
• Freedom House. 2022. Freedom in the World Report.
• Latin American Weekly Report. 2021. Various issues.
• Journal of Democracy. Recent articles, 2019-2022.
• Current History. Recent articles, 2020-2022.
• Hoskins, Andrew. 2021. “Argentina’s Political Economy and Democratic Challenges.” Journal of Democracy, 32(3): 45-59.
• Rodriguez, Maria. 2022. “The State of Political Accountability in Argentina.” Current History, 121(833): 23-29.