NewsWhore
05-19-2008, 04:50 PM
Sociologist Rosario Espinal, Latin American studies professor at Temple University in New Jersey, wrapped up her observations of Friday's presidential election on Telesistema Channel 11's electoral special last night. Interviewed by Juan Bolivar Diaz, Ana Mitila Lora, Rafael Toribio and Rafael Nunez, she called on the political parties to swap shortsightedness for a long-term vision of politics and democracy at the service of the nation's development. She stressed that there had to be a change in mentality and the political will to strengthen the nation's institutions and work for the progress of the nation and not for individual benefits.
Espinal commented that what is needed in Dominican politics is increased regulation of the electoral campaigns. She described the 2008 campaign as too long and too costly, characterized by hyper-clientelism, political defections and the disintegration of the Reformist Party (PRSC). "Elections can't swallow democracy. Democracy is also about giving answers to the people's needs. One can't be in politics at the expense of good government", she emphasized.
She says that clientelism has reached new levels precisely because of the combination of weak government institutions and increasing poverty. She stresses the urgent need for new political will to strengthen the state institutions. "Without political will, hyper-clientelism will not be able to be controlled," she stated.
She explained that this has not been done yet because Dominican politicians are short-term minded. They are thinking of how they can benefit now, or how they can keep themselves in power, or are concerned that they need to benefit now because they may not be here tomorrow.
Espinal advocates for a strengthening of civil society, one that becomes more organized, capable of having an effect and able to demand accountability from politicians. She says that civil society needs to get the point where it be heard by the parties. "The political parties are not afraid of civil society today because it does not have the power to mobilize people, it is too fragmented", she commented. On the other side, she explained that Dominican society is party-centered, which gives the political parties lots of space to act.
She said that political parties must abandon their short-term mindedness, so that the nation counts, and long-term progress is put first. "There is a need for a change in mentality," she explained.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)
Espinal commented that what is needed in Dominican politics is increased regulation of the electoral campaigns. She described the 2008 campaign as too long and too costly, characterized by hyper-clientelism, political defections and the disintegration of the Reformist Party (PRSC). "Elections can't swallow democracy. Democracy is also about giving answers to the people's needs. One can't be in politics at the expense of good government", she emphasized.
She says that clientelism has reached new levels precisely because of the combination of weak government institutions and increasing poverty. She stresses the urgent need for new political will to strengthen the state institutions. "Without political will, hyper-clientelism will not be able to be controlled," she stated.
She explained that this has not been done yet because Dominican politicians are short-term minded. They are thinking of how they can benefit now, or how they can keep themselves in power, or are concerned that they need to benefit now because they may not be here tomorrow.
Espinal advocates for a strengthening of civil society, one that becomes more organized, capable of having an effect and able to demand accountability from politicians. She says that civil society needs to get the point where it be heard by the parties. "The political parties are not afraid of civil society today because it does not have the power to mobilize people, it is too fragmented", she commented. On the other side, she explained that Dominican society is party-centered, which gives the political parties lots of space to act.
She said that political parties must abandon their short-term mindedness, so that the nation counts, and long-term progress is put first. "There is a need for a change in mentality," she explained.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#12)