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Disconnected Fire Alarms and Ineffective Police Patrols: Legislative Oversight in Postauthoritarian Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Peter M. Siavelis
Peter M. Siavelis*
Affiliation:
Wake Forest University, Institute of Political Science, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
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Abstract

In many Latin American countries, corruption and administrative inefficiency have emerged as significant threats to democracy and governability. This case study employs McCubbins and Schwartz’s U.S.-centered model of “fire alarm” and “police patrol” oversight to analyze how effectively Chile’s Congress has conducted its oversight functions. Chile’s experience with authoritarian rule, the weakening of Congress, and changes in the relationships between citizens and state institutions have undermined its tradition of fire alarm oversight, forcing Congress to rely on less-effective police patrol activities.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs , Volume 42 , Issue 1 , Spring 2000 , pp. 71 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 2000

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