spring 2012 | volume xliii | issue 2 in this issue

On the Profession

A Tribute to Guillermo O’Donnellby Scott Mainwaring

Guillermo O’Donnell, 1936-2011by abrahaM LowenthaL

Guillermo O’Donnell: A Remembranceby Laurence whitehead

Debates

City of Refuge, City of Survival Struggles: Contradictions of San Francisco for Low-Wage Latino Immigrantsby SuSanne JonaS

Oaxaca in Los Angeles, Los Angeles in Oaxaca: Transborder Organizing in Californiaby Lynn Stephen

Special Projects

Can Latin America Escape the Middle Income Trap? Lessons from a Trans-Regional Comparisonby eva pauS

1 InformedelaPresidenta | por Maria HerMínia Tavares de alMeida

On ThE PROFESSIOn

2 ATributetoGuillermoO’Donnell | by scoTT Mainwaring

4 GuillermoO’Donnell,1936-2011 | by abraHaM lowenTHal

5 GuillermoO’Donnell:ARemembrance | by laurence wHiTeHead

DEbATES

7 CityofRefuge,CityofSurvivalStruggles:ContradictionsofSanFranciscoforLow-WageLatinoImmigrants | by susanne Jonas

11 OaxacainLosAngeles,LosAngelesinOaxaca:TransborderOrganizinginCalifornia | by lynn sTepHen

On LASA2012

14 OntheEveofSanFrancisco2012 | by gabriela nouzeilles and TiMoTHy J. power

16 FilmFestivalatLASA2012 | by claudia FerMan

17 LASA2012Exhibitors

18 LASA2012LocalLogistics

SPECIAL PROjECTS

20 CanLatinAmericaEscapetheMiddleIncomeTrap?LessonsfromaTrans-RegionalComparison | by eva paus

PresidentMaria Hermínia Tavares de Almeida, Universidade de São Paulo mhbtdalm@usp.br

Vice PresidentEvelyne Huber, University of North Carolina

Past President John Coatsworth, Columbia University

TreasurerCristina Eguizábal, Florida International University

ExEcuTiVE council

For term ending April 2012Roberto Blancarte, Colegio de México Gwen Kirkpatrick, Georgetown University Kimberly Theidon, Harvard University

For term ending october 2013:Rosalva Aída Hernández Castillo, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social Maxine Molyneux, University of London Gioconda Herrera, FLACSO/Ecuador

Ex officioGabriela Nouzeilles, Princeton University Timothy J. Power, University of Oxford Milagros Pereyra-Rojas, University of Pittsburgh Philip Oxhorn, McGill University

Forum EdiToriAl commiTTEE

EditorMaria Hermínia Tavares de Almeida, Universidade de São Paulo

managing EditorMilagros Pereyra-Rojas, University of Pittsburgh

Forum EdiToriAl AdVisory commiTTEE

Katherine Hite, Vassar College Hilda Sábato, Universidad de Buenos Aires

lAsA sTAFF

special Projects coodinatorMaría Soledad Cabezas, University of Pittsburgh

Assistant director for institutional AdvancementSandra Klinzing, University of Pittsburgh

Executive directorMilagros Pereyra-Rojas, University of Pittsburgh

membership coordinatorIsrael R. Perlov, University of Pittsburgh

The LASA Forum is published four times a year. It is the official vehicle for conveying news about the Latin American Studies Association to its members. Articles appearing in the On the Profession and Debates sections of the Forum are commissioned by the Editorial Committee and deal with selected themes. The Committee welcomes responses to any material published in the Forum.

Opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Latin American Studies Association or its officers.

ISSN 0890-7218

TableofContents

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InformedelaPresidentapor Maria HerMínia Tavares de alMeida | UniversidadedeSãoPaulo | mhbtdalm@usp.br

fascinantesobreunfenómenodecrecienteimportancia,producidoporelcomplejotránsitoenlalargafronteraentreMéxicoyEstadosUnidos:elsurgimientodemovimientossocialestransfronterizos,queenestecaso,entrelazanlasciudadesdeOaxacayLosAngeles.SondoslecturassumamenteinteresantessobreuntemacentraldelaagendadeinvestigaciónydeaccióndelosmiembrosdeLASA.

EnesteForumrendimostributoalgranpensadoryqueridocolegaGuillermoO´Donnell,quenosdejóafinesdelañopasado.Lohacemospormediodeltestimoniodetrescolegasqueconvivieronytrabajaronconél.ScottMainwaring,AbrahamLowenthalyLaurenceWhiteheadhablandelacontribuciónacadémicaeinstitucionaldeO´Donnell,que,en2003recibióladistinciónmáximaconferidaporLASA,elKalmanSilvertLifetimeAchievementAward.Delalecturadelostrestextosemergelaimagendelinvestigadorriguroso,delpensadorvigoroso,delintelectualcomprometidoconlosproblemasdesutiempo,ytambiéndelcolegagentilysolidario.Nossumamos,así,algranhomenajeorganizadoporelKellogInstitutedelaNotreDameUniversity,enMarzoúltimo,enBuenosAires.

Finalmente,recordamosatodosque,enmayo,tenemoscitaenSanFranciscoparaelCongresodeLASA2012,quecreemosseráungranencuentrodenuestraasociación.Hastapronto.  n

BarringtonMooreJr.,ensuclásicoInjustice: The Social Bases of Obedience and Revolt,nosrecuerdaquelamigracióneslaprimeraformaqueasumelabúsquedaindividualdesobrevivenciafrentealaspésimascondicionesdevida.En2010,segúnlaComisióndePoblaciónyDesarrollodelasNacionesUnidas,alrededorde214millonesdepersonassemovieronporelplanetaenbúsquedadeunavidamejor,osencillamenteparasubsistir.AméricaLatinacontribuyócon14porcientodeesemovimientodepersonas,que,hoycomoenelpasadosehandesplazado,ensugranmayoría,haciaelnorte,especialmentehacialosEstadosUnidos.

Noes,entonces,porcasualidadquelamigraciónsehaconvertidoenunodelostemasmásimportantesysensiblesdelaagendainternacional,asícomountemadeldebatepolíticodomésticoenlospaísesquesoneldestinopreferencialdelosquemigran.Simigraresunadecisiónindividualofamiliar,queimplicasiempreuncambiograndeenlavidaprivadadelosdirectamenteinvolucrados,lasmigracionestambiénsonfenómenoscolectivos,fluyenalinteriorderedesyconllevancambiosimportantesaloslugaresdeldestino.EnestaedicióndeLASA Forum,publicamosdosartículosque,desdedistintosángulos,hablandelosmigranteslatinosenCalifornia.SusanneJonasdiscuteladifícilsituacióndelostrabajadoreslatinosdebajosingresosenSanFrancisco,ciudadconocidaporsudiversidadétnica,porsuethosmulticulturalyporsuspolíticasmásabiertasrespectoalosinmigrantes.Laspresionesdelmercadodeinmuebleshandesplazadoaloslatinosdesussitiosdeocupacióntradicionalenlaciudad;laspresionespolíticasamenazanlaimagendeSanctuary City, queSanFranciscoconstruyóalolargodedécadas.Porsuparte,LynnStephennospresentaunrelato

lasaforum spring 2012 : volume xliii : issue 2

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ATributetoGuillermoO’Donnellby Scott Mainwaring|UniversityofNotreDame|smainwar@nd.edu

moderateandmaximilistopposition.Theyarguedthattransitionperiodsaremarkedbyuncertaintywithunpredictableoutcomes;theyrejectedstructuralapproachestotransitions.

Beginninginthelate1980s,O’Donnell’sattentionturnedtotheseveredeficienciesofmostdemocraticregimes,againwithaprimaryfocusonLatinAmerica.Whilecountlessotherindividualsobservedthesesamedeficiencies,nobodymatchedhisacuityinthetheoreticalanalysisofnewissuesthatrevolvearoundtheseshortcomings.Hecoinedmanyimportantconceptsthatremainatthecoreofanalysesofcontemporarydemocracy.Hisconcept“delegativedemocracy”referstodemocraticregimesinwhichthepresidentandcongressaredemocraticallyelected,butinwhichmechanismsof“horizontal”accountabilityarefragile.Hecontributedseminalarticlesoninformalinstitutions,horizontalaccountability,theruleoflaw,andtherelationshipbetweenthestateanddemocracy.OtherleadingscholarshavesubsequentlytakenonthesethemesascrucialforunderstandingcontemporaryLatinAmerica.3Hisarticle,“Democracy,LawandComparativePolitics”(Studies in Comparative International Development,Spring2001),wontheLuebbertPrizeforthebestarticleincomparativepolitics,awardedannuallybytheComparativePoliticssectionoftheAmericanPoliticalScienceAssociation.

Asascholar,O’Donnellalwaysfocusedongreatnormativeissuesthatconfrontcontemporaryhumanity—howtobuildbetterdemocracies,howtoensuremoreeffectiveruleoflawandmoreevencitizenship.Inthelasttwodecades,heachievedajudiciousbalancebetweencriticizingthedeficienciesofLatinAmericandemocracieswhileatthesametimenotindulginginfacilecriticismsthat

Inasecondpartofhiscareer,O’DonnellwrotemanyimportantworksaboutthenatureofauthoritarianisminLatinAmerica.AmongthemwashisbookontheArgentinemilitarydictatorshipof1966-73,publishedfirstinSpanishin1982(El Estado burocrático autoritario)andinEnglishin1988.Thisworkemphasizedconflictsamongthevariousforces—especiallydominantclassgroupsandthemilitary—thathadinitiallysupportedthedictatorship.Anotherbrilliantwork,“StateandAlliancesinArgentina,1956-1976,”analyzedhiscountry’scyclesbetweenauthoritarianismanddemocracyfromapoliticaleconomyperspective.1Afterthe1976coup,heauthoredsomeworkthatunderscoredthemicrodynamicsofauthoritarianismthatplaguedArgentinesocietyduringanextendedperiod,butinaparticularlyhorrificwayduringthebrutaldictatorshipof1976-83.2

Inathirdphasethattemporallyoverlappedsomewhatwiththesecond,O’DonnellwasthepioneerinanticipatingthewaveoftransitionstodemocracythatbeganinLatinAmericain1978.Withremarkableprescience,whenLatinAmericawasatthezenithofauthoritarianrule,hecorrectlyandalmostuniquelyunderstoodthatmanyoftheawfuldictatorshipstheninpowerwerelikelytobetransient.Heanalyzedthewaveoftransitionstodemocracythatresultedinpartfromthetensionswithinauthoritarianismthathehadstudiedearlier.Onceagain,heopenedanewresearchquestion,hugelyimportantboththeoreticallyandinthe“real”world.His1986co-editedvolumeTransitions From Authoritarian Rule(JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress)remainsaclassic.Itisoneofthemostwidelycitedworksinpoliticalscience.O’DonnellandPhilippeSchmitterfamouslyanalyzedtransitiondynamicsintermsoffourkeyblocsofactors:hardlineandsoftlineauthoritarians,andthe

GuillermoO’DonnelldiedonNovember29inhisnativeBuenosAiresattheageof75,followingafour-monthbattleagainstcancer.Hewasagiantincontemporarysocialscience,knownaroundtheworldforhisintellectualcreativity,hispath-breakingoriginality,andhispassionfordemocraciesthatfunctiondecently.Hisscholarlyworkonauthoritarianismanddemocracyestablishedhisinternationalreputationasabrilliantandseminalthinker.

O’Donnell’sscholarlycontributionscanbegroupedintofourphases.Earlyinhiscareer,heworkedprimarilyontheoriginsofauthoritarianisminSouthAmerica,especiallyintheregion’smoredevelopedcountries.Firstpublishedin1973,Modernization and Bureaucratic AuthoritarianismwasaseminalworkinunderstandingtheoriginsofmodernauthoritarianisminLatinAmerica.Unlikemanyofhiscontemporaries,O’Donnellrecognizedthatthiswasanewkindofauthoritarianrule.Againunlikehiscontemporaries,healsounderstoodthatthisnewpatternofauthoritarianrulehadprofoundtheoreticalimplicationsforunderstandingtherelationshipbetweenmodernizationanddemocracy.HearguedthatinLatinAmericaatacertainstageofdevelopmentcharacterizedbytheendofaneasyphaseofimportsubstitutionindustrialization,modernizationgeneratedpressurestowardanewformofauthoritarianismthathecalled“bureaucraticauthoritarianism.”ThisnewformofauthoritarianismemergedpreciselyinthemoreindustrializedcountriesofSouthAmerica:BrazilandArgentina.Thisargumentfosteredcriticalrethinkingofmodernizationtheory,whichpositedthatmoremodernizedcountriesaremorelikelytobedemocratic.

on the profession

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Notas

1 Journal of Development Studies15No.1(October1978):3-33.

2 Threeoftheseessayswerepublishedaschapters3,4,and5inO’Donnell’sCounterpoints: Selected Essays on Authoritarianism and Democratization(NotreDame,IN:UniversityofNotreDamePress,1999).

3 Forexample,seeGretchenHelmkeandStevenLevitsky,eds.,Informal Institutions and Democracy: Lessons from Latin America(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,2006)

4 GuillermoO’Donnell,“IllusionsaboutConsolidation,”Journal of Democracy7No.2:34-51.

5 ForO’Donnell’sperspectivesonauthoritarianism,democracy,politicalscience,andhisownwork,seethelengthyinterviewwithhimpublishedinGerardoL.MunckandRichardSnyder,eds.,Passion, Craft, and Method in Comparative Politics(Baltimore:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,2007),pp.273-304.  n

ResearchInstituteofRiodeJaneiro(IUPERJ)inRiodeJaneirofrom1980until1982andattheBrazilianCenterofAnalysisandPlanning(CEBRAP)inSãoPaulofrom1983until1991.

O’Donnellwasapersonofdeeppassionsandcommitments.From1966on,hedespisedmilitarydictatorships,andhealsohadcontemptforquotidianabusesofpower.Hehadgreatinsightsintothefoiblesofhisowncountryeventhoughhewasinmanyrespectsaworldcitizen.Fromthe1990son,hewascriticalofmainstreamU.S.politicalscience,justashehadbeeninhispioneeringModernization and Bureaucratic Authoritarianism;hebelievedthatthequestforscientificrigorhadsometimesledtoneglectinggreatquestionsandfocusingonthelessimportant.Hehadarefreshingabilitytochangehisthinking.Havingbeenthepioneerinthinkingaboutissuesofdemocraticconsolidation,helaterrejectedtheconcept.4

Throughouthiscareer,O’Donnellposedfascinatingnewtheoreticalquestionsabouttremendouslyimportantdevelopmentsinthecontemporaryworld.Hewasadeeplylearnedpersonwhoalwaysdrewupontheantecedentscholarship,yetoneofhisextraordinarygiftswasrecognizingnewquestionsandnewproblemsthathadnothithertobeenaddressed.Hestandsasoneofthemostimportantthinkersaboutdemocracyanddictatorshipsinthehistoryofpoliticalscience.5

A similar version of this tribute appears in the April issue ofPS:PoliticalScience&Politics.

couldfuelanti-democraticsentiment.Heconstantlymovedontonewagendas,andheconsistentlyopenednewresearchquestionsthatweresubsequentlyunderstoodtobehighlyimportant.

Hisscholarshipwonhimwiderecognition.AmemberoftheAmericanAcademyofArtsandSciences,O’Donnellwonthe2003KalmanSilvertAwardforLifetimeAchievement,givenevery18monthsbytheLatinAmericanStudiesAssociation.HewaspresidentoftheInternationalPoliticalScienceAssociationfrom1988to1991,andalsoservedasvice-presidentoftheAmericanPoliticalScienceAssociationfrom1999to2000.In2006,hewontheinauguralLifetimeAchievementAwardoftheInternationalPoliticalScienceAssociation.Hewastherecipientofcountlessotherfellowshipsandawards,includingtheJohnSimonGuggenheimMemorialFoundationFellowship.

AttheUniversityofNotreDame,O’DonnellplayedapivotalroleincreatinganddevelopingtheKelloggInstituteforInternationalStudies.AsKellogg’sfirstacademicdirector,hedefinedanexcitingresearchagendafortheinstituteandbuiltanoutstandingprogramofvisitingfellows.

IndicativeofthenearlyglobalreachofO’Donnell’swork,ithasbeentranslatedintoKorean,Japanese,Portuguese,Chinese,andofcourse,English.Inrecentyears,severalleadingLatinAmericanuniversitiesawardedhimhonoraryPhDs.

O’DonnellwasborninBuenosAiresin1936.HereceivedhislawdegreefromtheUniversidaddeBuenosAiresin1958andhisPh.D.fromYalein1988.HeleftArgentinain1979ashiscountryexperienceditsmostrepressivedictatorshipofthetwentiethcenturyandmovedtoBrazil,whereheworkedattheUniversity

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GuillermoO’Donnell,1936-2011byabrahaM LowenthaL|UniversityofSouthernCalifornia|afl@usc.edu

LaurenceWhitehead,madealandmarkcontributionbothtothestudyofcomparativepoliticsandtopractice.Theproject’ssummaryvolumewasconsultedbymanyworkingtoexpandtheprospectsfordemocraticgovernancebycrackingopenauthoritarianregimes.Guillermo’sconveningauthority,inspiringleadership,incisiveanalysisandgiftsasapoliticalstrategistallcametogetherintheTransitionsproject.

WhenIthinkaboutGuillermoO’Donnell,Ithinknotonlyofhisprofessionalachievementsbutofhispersonalqualities:hissheerbrillianceandperspicacityonmanyquestions,cosmicandmicro-social;hiswarmth,senseofhumor,friendshipandloyalty.Hehadanenormouscapacityforempathyandastrongcommitmenttoequity,qualitiesthataffectedhisscholarshipbutalsohispersonalrelationships.Hecourageouslyovercametheeffectsofpolio,andhismentalagilitymorethanmadeupforhisphysicallimits.

GuillermoO’Donnellcareddeeplyaboutjusticeandabouttheneedtoprotectrightsthroughinstitutionsandconstraints.Heunderstoodandwroteclearlyaboutstructuralandsystemicforcesbutalsoemphasizedthepossibilityforexpandingthescopeofrightsandjusticethroughpoliticalengineering,individualleadershipandcoalitionbuilding.Hisanalysisandinsightsareasimportanttodayastheyhaveeverbeen.GuillermoO’Donnellwillbemissed.  n

on the profession

leadershipofScottMainwaring,hasbecomeaworld-classcenter,thankslargelytothehighlycreative,rigorouscharismaticleadershipthatGuillermoprovidedduringitsformativeyears.

Isawfirst-handGuillermo’sextraordinaryinstitution-buildingskillsintheearlyyearsoftheWoodrowWilsonCenter’sLatinAmericanProgram,whereheservedasoneofninemembersofitsoriginalAcademicCouncil,chairedbyAlbertO.Hirschman.AttheCouncil’sfirstmeeting,Guillermourgedthatweidentifyafewprivilegedtopicstoorganizeourwork,andtoinvitefellowstotheCenter.Hesuggestedmanyofthetopicsweadopted,thusgivingtheprogram,fromthestart,animportantfocusonthoughtfulexplorationofnormativelydrivenissues.Afterthefirstmeeting,GuillermoandFernandoHenriqueCardoso,theBraziliansociologist,latertobecomethatcountry’spresident,helpedmedesignguidelinesandpoliciestoensurethattheprogramwouldachievecredibilityinLatinAmericanacademiccircles,wheresuspicionofaWashington-basedinstitutioncouldbeanticipated.Whendelicatepoliticalissuesaroseatthecenter,inthecontextofpoliticalandideologicalpressuresthatreflectedchangingcurrentsinWashington,GuillermoflewupfromBuenosAirestoparticipateinahalf-daymeetingofthecouncilwiththeCenter’sdirectorandtohelpprotecttheintellectualautonomyandacademicqualityofwhatweweredoing.Iwillneverforgetthepassionandpersuasivenessofhispresentation,andhiseffectivenessinhelpingtocounterthepressuresthatwerebeingbroughttobearontheProgram.

Guillermo’sexceptionalleadershipoftheProgram’sinfluentialprojecton“TransitionsfromAuthoritarianRule,”togetherwithPhilippeSchmitterand

MostappreciationsofGuillermoO’Donnellemphasizehiscontributionstotheliteratureonauthoritarianism,thenontransitionsfromauthoritarianruleandtheconstructionofeffectivedemocraticgovernance,andfinallyonthechallengesofgettingbeyondlowintensityandlowqualitydemocracyinordertoachievegovernancethatbuildscitizenshipandprotectstherightsofallcitizens.GuillermoO’Donnellcontributedbrilliantinsightsandsystematictheorybuildingonalltheseissues.Hisworkiswidelyrecognizedaroundtheworld,asthemanytranslationsofhiswritingsandhismanyinternationalhonorsanddistinctions,includingLASA’sKalmanSilvertAward,amplydemonstrate.AnumberofGuillermo’sstudentsandcolleaguesarealsoprovidingwarmtestimonyabouthisqualitiesasateacherandmentor:inArgentina,Brazil,theUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,andelsewhere.

IwishtocommentonGuillermo’smajorcontributionsasaninstitutionbuilder,inArgentinaandintheUnitedStates.HewasoneofthefoundersandthefirstdirectoroftheCenterforStudiesofStateandSociety(CEDES)inBuenosAires,anislandofcriticalinquiryinArgentina’sdarkdays,anincubatoroftalentedcriticalsocialscientistsandtothisday,animportantplaceforresearchinthatalways-perplexingcountry.

GuillermowasalsothefirstandlongtimeacademicdirectoroftheHelenKelloggInstituteattheUniversityofNotreDame.ThatinstitutebeganwithhighambitionandthevisionofFatherTedHesburghbutwithfewotherassetsuntilFatherTedandFatherErnestBartellmanagedtorecruitO’DonnellandChileaneconomistAlejandroFoxleytobuildacenterofexcellenceondevelopmentanddemocracy.TheKelloggInstitute,nowundertheable

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Iregardedasperilousintheextreme.“Youseemtothinkthisisgoodnews,”Icommented,perhapsfeelinglessconfidentthenhewasabouthowsuchaconfrontationmustunfold.“BecauseMrs.ThatcherwillbringdemocracytoArgentina,”herepliedwithouthesitation.(Eventhenmyenthusiasmwaslessthanhis.Inthatcase,Ireplied,“ArgentinawillprobablybringadecadeofThatcherismtotheUK.”)

ThroughoutaversatileandfecundlifetimecareerGuillermoproducedmanystrikinganalyticalinsights,sometimesidentifyingphenomenabeforetheywerefullyrealized.Forexample,his“delegativedemocracy”articlecanbeseenasaprecursorofChavismoinVenezuela.IndeedIhaveteasedhimwiththesuggestionthattheVenezuelanrulermusthavestudiedhisarticlecarefullyinordertoconformsocloselytoitsspecifications.Butthisanalyticalskillwasnotjusttheproductofexceptionallybroadcomparativeexperienceandabrilliantintelligence.Itwasalsogroundedinsomedeeppersonalcommitments.Hewasinstinctivelyopposedtothebully.Itmaybethathisownphysicaldisability(hehadpolioasachild,andalwayshadtocopewithoneveryweakleg)reinforcedthattrait.Thatmayhelptoexplaintheunderlyingstructureofhisimaginativethinking.

Again,anexamplemaybepertinent.AsPresidentofTheInternationalPoliticalScienceAssociation(IPSA)hewaspresentedwithaparticularlydelicatepoliticaldilemma.ItwouldhavebeenagreatcouptorecruitmainlandChinaintothefold—thiswas,Ithink,shortlybeforethe1989crackdown.ButBeijingwouldnotcountenanceanysuchmoveunlessTaiwanwasexpelledfromtheassociation.IdoubtwhetherGuillermohadthatmuchpriorknowledgeoftheintricaciesof

repeatedthroughouthiscareer,Guillermoallowedhistheorizingtorunaheadofthefacts,imaginingpossiblescenariosthatotherlessgiftedanalystsmighthavedismissedasfanciful.Heencouragedwell-groundedthoughtexperimentsthatweredrivenbywhathecouldpersuadehimselfwaspossibleanddesirable,ratherthanlimitinghismodel-buildingtowhatmightseemfirmlypredictable.Thatiswhythecelebratedgreenfourthvolumeofthe“Transitions”project(writtenjointlywithPhilippeSchmitterduringaperiodthatthethreeofusspenttogetherinFlorencein1984)wasentitled“TentativeConclusionsaboutUncertainDemocracies.”

Somemightthinkthatimaginingpossiblescenariosthatonewouldliketoseerealizedwouldbearecipeforfantasyandself-deception,andindeedtherearemanyexamplesofjustsuchapitfall.ButGuillermowasnonaïveidealist.HehadbeenthrougharoughandtumbleofArgentinepoliticseversincehisteenageyearsatthewrongendofthePerónregime.HehadlearnthiscomparativepoliticsfromsuchjudiciousauthoritiesasRobertDahlandDavidApter.AndhehadseenhowutopianillusionshadmisledhisPopularUnityfriendsinChile.Sothescenariosheimaginedwerewellgroundedinexperience,andattunedtosomeunderlyingstandardsofdecencythatwereperhapsbetterembeddedoutsidethepoliticalarenathanwithinit.

Toillustratethisthemeoneincidentparticularlysticksinmymemory.Tothebestofmyrecollection,atthebeginningofApril1982hephonedmeabouttheTransitionsbookproject.“Haveyouheardthepromisingnews?”heaskedme.IwasalltooawarethatMrs.ThatcherhadjustauthorizedthedispatchofanavalmissiontoretaketheFalklandIslands/MalvinasfromGeneralGaltieri,aventurethat

GuillermoO’Donnell:ARemembrancebyLaurence whitehead|NuffieldCollege|laurence.whitehead@nuffield.ox.ac.uk

on the profession

GuillermoO’DonnelldiedinNovember2011attheageofseventy-five.HehadreturnedtoBuenosAiresaftermanyyearsofteachingandresearchabroad,inparticularattheKelloggInstituteoftheUniversityofNotreDame.Althoughaversatileandcosmopolitancitizenoftheworld—onashortvisittoIrelandherediscoveredaforgottenidentityasWilliamofDonegal—hewasalsoandultimatelyatrueporteño.

IfirstmethimattheWilsonCenter,inWashingtonD.C.whenhewasontheacademiccounciloftheLatinAmericanProgram,whichwasbeginningtosetupwhatbecamethefamous“TransitionsfromAuthoritarianRule”project.HewasalreadyinternationallycelebratedforhiswritingsaboutthebureaucraticauthoritarianstateandforhisleadershipoftheCenterforStudiesofStateandSociety(CEDES)inBuenosAires.Butbytheendofthe1970sthe“dirtywar”hadmadecriticalscholarshipworkinArgentinaevermoreimpossible,andthebestsocialscientistsoftheSouthernConewerebeingforcedintoexileandscatteredaroundthewesternhemisphere.TheCarteradministrationhadtakenupthecauseofhumanrights,and—atleastforawhile—partsofWashingtonseemedtoprovidesomethingofashelter.

Inthebeginningthe“transitions”projectwasmoreabout“thoughtfulwishing”thanhardevidencebasedanalysis.Thereweresomehistoricalandtheoreticalreferencepoints,ofcourse,andthepost-FrancocreationofaSpanishconstitutionwasaparticularsourceofencouragement.ButnooneknewwhetherevenSpanishdemocracywouldprovedurable,andthereweregoodreasonsfordoubtingwhetheranylessonsfromMadridwouldprovereadilytransferabletoBuenosAiresorSantiago.Inapatternthatwastobe

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themeshehadworkedonforsolong.Thisisnottheplaceforanextendedreviewofthatmajorvolume,whichIwasprivilegedtohelpproduce.Itmaysufficetoquoteonesentenceofconclusionthatcanstandasatestimonytohisstandpoint:

If my life is enriched by a diverse social context, I should recognize that it is my interest that all individuals, or as many as possible, have the necessary conditions for freely choosing their own functioning under the conditions established by law of an (at least) partially democratized state.

Athoughtfulwish,worthimagining—butnotonethathasbeenrealizedasyet.  n

Chineseinternalpolitics,andIsuspectthattheKMTregimewasnotparticularlytohisliking.Butasheexplainedittomesubsequently,theissuewasstraightforward.Whateverthesecondaryarguments,itwasessentialtostanduptothebully.Taiwancouldnotbeexpelledifitwasnotatfault,simplybecauseamorepowerfulactordemandedobeisance.

ManyyearslaterGuillermoandIvisitedPresidentChenShui-bianinhispalaceinTaipei.Thedemocraticrulerseemedremarkablysimilartotheauthoritarianpredecessorswhohadsatinthesamechair.Hehadlittletimetotakeadvicefromusvisitingexpertsincomparativedemocratization(anurgentappointmentwithAmbassadorJohnBoltoncutshortourtimebeforeGuillermocoulddeliverhisfullremarks).ItwasnottocurryfavorwiththeTaiwanese,oroutofanyillusionsaboutthequalityoftheirdemocraticcommitments,thatGuillermohadtakenhisstance.Itwassimplyadutytoresistintimidation.

Althoughheisbestknownforhislargescaleandtheoreticallyelaboratedworksinmacro-comparativepolitics,atleastoneofhisearlywritingsshouldbehighlightedheretodemonstratetherangeanddiversityofhistalents.“‘¿Yamí,quémeimporta?’NotassobresociabilidadypolíticaenArgentinayBrasil”(EstudiosCEDES,BuenosAires,1984)doesnotappearinthebibliographyofhisfinalmagnumopus,butitis—inmyopinion—aminorjewelandacluetohissourcesofinspiration.

Fortunatelyhelivedlongenoughtoseethepublicationofhisfinalbook,Democracy, Agency and the State: Theory with Comparative Intent,(OxfordStudiesinDemocratization,2010).Thistookupmostofhisenergiesinthelastfewyearsofhislife,anddrawstogetherthemajor

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2011,withSanFranciscoinflux,theserelativeachievementsfacedmajorchallenges.

Two Tales of the City

ContestedSpace:GentrificationandLatinoDisplacementin“theMission”

Rapid-fireboomandbustcyclesofhigh-technologysectorsafterthemid-1990stookagreattollonLatinoneighborhoods,mainlytheinnerMissionDistrict.Increasingpovertyresultedfromscarceaccesstodecentjobsand,simultaneously,theextraordinarilyhighcostoflivingandinsufficientaffordablehousing.Bytheearly2000s,thiswascombinedwithgentrification-drivenevictionsandLatinodisplacement.Subsequently,theGreatRecessionbeginninginlate2007reducedtheavailabilityofevenlow-wagejobsinSanFrancisco.

Asof2000,Latino(“Hispanic-origin”)residentshadresisteddemographicdecline,remainingmoreorlessstablefrom1970to2000at14percentofSanFrancisco’spopulation,concentratedmainlyintheMissionDistrictandalongtheMissionStreetcorridortoDalyCity(Godfrey2004).Duringthe1980sand1990s,outrightgentrificationandeviction/displacementofLatinAmericanimmigrantsintheMissionDistricthadadvanced,butfarmoreslowlythanpredicted.UnlikeotherneighborhoodsofSanFranciscothathadbeencompletelytransformedbythesedynamicsinthemid-to-latetwentiethcentury(Hartman2002),gentrificationbeganontheouteredgesoftheinnerMissionDistrict,butdidnotyetoccurwholesaleinthecore(lower24thStreet).Inadditiontotheneighborhood’slongstandingLatinoculturaland

lesssecureforlow-wageLatinos,especiallyimmigrants.Theeffectsoflivinginapost-industrial“dot-com”technology-driveneconomythatwaspolarizedintohigh-end/low-endservicesectors(Sassen1988),andthatunderwentspectacularboomsandprecipitousdeclinessincethe1990s,werefeltthroughoutSanFrancisco’shousingandlabormarkets.BothboomandbustperiodstransformedSanFranciscointooneoftheleastaffordableurbanareasforlow-incomeresidentswithregardtohousingandtheoverallcostofliving.Injobmarkets,manynewlyarrivingLatinoimmigrantstendedtoremaintrappedasthe“workingpoor,”oftenwithmorethanonejoband/oratthebottomoftheinformalsector-—forexample,atdaylaborerstreetsites(men)orasmaidsandnannies(women).AsaGuatemalansoccer-leagueorganizerdescribedtomeinthelate1990showhardhiscompatriotshadtoworktosurvive,“Aquí, no se vive, se sobrevive.”

Buttheselow-wageLatinoimmigrantswerenotsimplypassiveobjectsofstructuralchanges.TheirverypresencediversifiedSanFrancisco’scultureandpolitics.Furthermore,organizationsbasedintheircommunitiesbecamecollectivesocialactors;togetherwithothermovements,forseveraldecades,fromthelate1960sto2000,theychallengeddowntowndevelopers’plansandresistedthetideofgentrificationintheMissionDistrict’sinnercore.Someareasin“theMission”sufferedfromeconomicdeteriorationandpoverty,dilapidatedandovercrowdedhousing,crimeandgangs;itwaslargelyabarriooftheworkingpoor,butitwastheirLatinospace.Inaddition,theirorganizinginitiatives(e.g.,bytheSalvadoranCentralAmericanResourceCenter,CARECEN,andnumerousothergroups)helpedmaintainSanFranciscoasaSanctuaryCityforseveraldecades.Butby

CityofRefuge,CityofSurvivalStruggles:ContradictionsofSanFranciscoforLow-WageLatinoImmigrantsbySuSanne JonaS|UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz|sjonas@ucsc.edu

SanFranciscohasbeenwidelyperceivedasafavorablecontextofsettlementforLatinAmericanimmigrantsbecauseofitsethnicdiversityandmulticulturalvalues,whichinturnreflectitssizeableimmigrantcommunities.1Thecityhasalsobeenprominentforitsgenerallyprogressivepolitics,andforbeingoneofthemostreceptivedestinationsforCentralAmericanasylumseekersduringthe1980sand1990s.SanFranciscoofficialsextendedSanctuaryCityprovisionstootherundocumentedimmigrantsin1989andhaveopposedfederaleffortstotarget,punish,anddeportundocumentedLatinoimmigrantsduringtheextendedcrackdownsince1996.

However,researchfocusingonthelargestlow-wageLatinoimmigrantcommunities—CentralAmericansandMexicans2—revealsmorecomplexrealitiesofSanFrancisco.Whilesufferingverylittlepoliticalintolerance,mostlow-wageLatinoimmigrantshavefacedsignificantsocio-economicdifficultiesandhaveachievedonlylimitedupwardmobility.AsfirstanalyzedbyCastells(1983)inhispioneeringcriticalanalysisofSanFrancisco’sMissionDistrictasasiteforLatinomigrantsandcitizens,culturalcapital(e.g.,murals,majorfestivals,restaurants)didnottranslateintosocio-economicorpoliticalpower.Despitebeingmobilizedaroundparticularissues,Latinocommunitiesdidnotincreasetheiractualpoliticaloreconomicpowervis-à-visthecity’srulingelitesanddevelopers.Thisisnottotallysurprising,sincetheLatinocommunitieshadahighproportionofnon-citizens,manyofthemundocumented.

Theeconomicandpoliticaldominanceofdowntowndevelopers,aswellasstructuraltransformationsinthepost-industrialpoliticaleconomyofSanFranciscoinrecentdecades,madelifemoredifficultand

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migrationtolessexpensiveneighborhoodsinSanFrancisco,andevenmoretoOaklandandfarthereast.ManynewLatinomigrantsintheearly2000shaveskippedSanFranciscoaltogetherasadestination.

Sanctuary Contested

Duringtheearly2000s,thecityandcountyofSanFranciscofacedgrowingpressurestoredefineitsSanctuaryCitypolicies.TheoriginalSanctuary(“CityofRefuge”)policywasadoptedin1985toprotectspecificallySalvadoranandGuatemalanasylumseekerswhohadenteredtheUnitedStatesundocumented.ConfrontingtheReaganadministration’sdenialof98-99percentoftheirasylumpetitions,theSanFranciscoordinancepledgednottocooperatewithfederalauthoritiesseekinginformationaboutthem.In1989,followingincreasedImmigrationandNaturalizationService(INS)raidsintheMissionDistrictandfederallylegislatedemployersanctions,thecity’sBoardofSupervisorsunanimouslyextendedSanctuaryCitytoprotectundocumentedimmigrantsingeneral,andstipulatedthatinformationaboutimmigrantstatuswouldnotbesharedwithfederalauthoritiesinthecaseofundocumentedarresteesunless/untiltheywereconvictedofacriminalact—aprovisionthatsurvivedintermittentchallengesduringthe1990sandmaintainedSanFranciscoasa“safe”socialspace.

FollowingtheCongressionalanti-immigrantmeasuresofthe1996IllegalImmigrantReformandImmigrantResponsibilityAct(IIRIRA),andprovisionsoftheWelfareReformandAnti-Terrorismlawsandtheirhardeningafter9/11(e.g.,inthe2001USAPatriotAct),massivechangesinnationalimmigrantenforcement

longstandingMexicanrestaurantandbakeryLaVictoriasurvived,butbecame“LaVictoria/WholesomeBakery,”offeringupscalecupcakesandexpensivefair-tradecoffeealongsidetraditionalpan dulce,inorderto“keepupwiththechangingneighborhood,”asthesecond-generationownertoldus.

Inthelower24thStreetapartmentbuildingwhereIhadlivedfromthemid-1980sthrough2001,insteadofsixLatinorentersandoneAngloasin2001,therewereby2011twoLatino,twoAsianandthreeAnglorenters.Gonewerethegraffitithathadfrequentlydefacedthebuilding’sexteriorduringthe1990s,andtherewasagoodsecuritysystematthebuilding’sentrance.Morebroadly,throughouttheMissiondistrict,issuesof“live-work”loftspacesandzoningregulationsremainedhighlycontested.Thistime,theanti-displacementorganizationsputupafight,butultimatelywereunabletostopthegentrification/expulsionprocess,as10percentofSanFrancisco’sLatinocommunityleftthecitybetween2000and2005(Mirabal2009,usingCensusdata).

Fromatop-downanalyticalperspective,thisre-socializationofspacecanbeseenasatriumphfordevelopersandnewmiddle-classresidents.Viewedfromthebottom-up,itisbestcapturedbyGodfrey’s(2004)formulationofa“barrioundersiege”inregardto“Latinosenseofplace”intheinnerMissionDistrict,respondingdefensivelytothethreatsofdisplacementandneoliberalspatialrestructuring.WhereLatinossawtheirbarrioorplace,developerssawaprimepropertylocation,inthewarmestandsunniestneighborhoodofthecity,amereten-minutedrivefromdowntown.Onepragmaticresponsebylow-wageLatinostointensifieddisplacementfromtheMissionDistrictduringtheearly2000shasbeenout-

commercialcapital,activistorganizationssuchastheMissionAnti-DisplacementCoalitionresisteddowntowndevelopers’schemes.

Asof2000,Latinosstillmadeup60.9percentoftheinnerMissionDistrictpopulation,comparedto62.3percentin1990(Godfrey2006,339).Butby2010,accordingtotheSanFranciscoPlanningDepartment(2011),usingACS2005-09data,Latinosmadeuponly41percentoftheMissionDistrictpopulation—ahugedecreasefrom2000.Meanwhile,thenon-HispanicwhitepopulationincreasednotablyintheMissionDistrict.Beginninginthelate1990s,gentrificationandskyrocketingrentsaswellasoutrightevictions,includingownermove-inevictionsandwrongfulevictions,acceleratedsignificantlyintheinnerMissionDistrict.Increasinglyduringthenextdecade,thearealostitsstatusasoneofthecity’sleastexpensiveneighborhoods;rentalsandhomepricesarenowfarhighertherethaninthenearby“OuterMission”andExcelsiordistricts,andmedianhomepricesarevirtuallyashighasinborderingupscaleBernalHeights.Newcondosareconstantlybeingbuilt,givingdevelopersthemostprofitoutofeverysquareinch.

Nolongerislower24thStreetsimplyaLatinoethnicenclave,althoughLatinosmaintainasignificantpresence.Forexample,internetcafessuchas“L’s,”exoticice-creamparlors,trendyOrientalandorganicrestaurants(e.g.,“SushiBistro”),andbusinessessuchasMetro/PCShavetakenoverspacespreviouslyoccupiedbyLatinorestaurantssuchasLaPostaandMargarita’sPupusería,andarespatiallyinterspersedwiththeremainingLatinobusinesses.Inaddition,someofthesurvivingLatinobusinesseshavebeguncateringtonewclienteles,mainlyrecentlyarrivedprofessional/yuppieresidents.The

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nearbyhigh-techjobswerechangingtheelectoraldemographicsofSanFrancisco,bringinginolder,better-off,generallynon-HispanicwhiteandAsianvoterswhowouldnotnecessarilydefendimmigrantrights.In2010and2011,officialselectedtotheBoardofSupervisorsandasmayorwere“moderate”centrists.

Simultaneously,enforcementcontroversieseruptedregardingtheICES-Commprogram.MandatedbyastrongBoardofSupervisors’resolutionthatpassed9-2inJune,2010,theSanFranciscoSheriff,aprogressive,formallypetitionedto“optout”ofS-Commforundocumentedresidentswhohadcommittedminoroffenses.Aftermonthsofmixedmessages,inmid-2011,theDHStookadefinitivestanceagainstallowingstateorlocaljurisdictionstooptout.Inperhapsthebitterestirony,SanFranciscoCountyhadamongthehighestratesofdeportationofnon-criminalsorminoroffendersunderS-Comm:77.6percent(of241cases)betweenOctober2008andFebruary2011.

Allofthesestruggleshavesparkedgrassrootsandimmigrantrightsadvocacymobilizations,withbroadcoalitionsthatincludemanyCentralAmerican,Mexican,pan-Latino,Asian,Asian-PacificIslander,African,Arabandoveralllegalimmigrantsupportorganizations.Theseproactivecoalitionshaveprovidedsupportforimmigrantrightsmeasures,suggestinganaccumulationofpoliticalcapitalovertheyearsbyorganizationsbasedinSanFrancisco’simmigrantcommunities,eventhoughtheycouldnotstopICEarrestsanddeportations.

Themixedrecorddescribedhererevealssomefault-linesoftwenty-firstcenturySanFranciscoimmigrationpolitics.Thestructuralissueofhowmuchautonomycanexistforapoliticallypro-immigrant

withpoliticians(includingthemayor),themainstreammedia(particularlytheSan Francisco Chronicle),andsomestrainsofpublicopinionviewingSanctuaryCityassystematically“protecting”undocumentedjuvenilecriminals.

OnJuly2,2008,themayorunilaterallydeclaredthatpolicewouldshareinformationwithICEaboutjuvenileundocumentedimmigrantsatthetimetheywerefirstarrestedandcharged withcommittingacrime.Withstrongcommunitypressuresagainstthemayor’saction,inthefallof2009,theBoardofSupervisorspassedaveto-proof(8-3)ordinance,mandatingthatinformationaboutthesejuvenilesshouldbesharedwithICEnotatthetimeofarrestforacrime,butonlyatthetimeoftheiractualconviction,inordertoprotecttheirdueprocessrights.ThismeasurewasspearheadedbyGuatemalan-AmericanSupervisorDavidCampos,3thefirstLatinoeverelectedtorepresentDistrict9,whichincludedmostoftheMissionDistrictaswellasneighboringBernalHeights,withitsbaseofprogressiveuppermiddleclassvoters.Theongoingbattlebetweenthemayor,whorefusedtoimplementthelaw,andtheBoardofSupervisorswassomewhatdefusedin2011,whenanewmayorcompromised,preservingdueprocessformany,butnotall,undocumentedjuvenilearrestees.

Butbytheearly2000s,unconditionallypro-immigrantpoliciescouldnotbetakenforgrantedoutsideofDistrict9.Bothin2004andin2010,forexample,SanFranciscovoterssoundlydefeatedinitiativestoallowimmigrants,regardlessofstatus,tovoteinelectionsfortheBoardofEducation—ameasurethatsomemajorcitieshadadopted.Themainstreammediafurtherpolarizedpublicopinion.Gentrificationaswellasnewbio-techand

reverberatedatthelocallevel.In2003,theenforcementdivisionoftheINSwasreplacedbytheImmigrationandCustomsEnforcementagency(ICE)withintheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity(DHS).Withinthenationalsecurityenvironment,ICEattemptedtoestablishtheprimacyofnationalauthoritiesandtocarryoutraidsanddeportationswithoutfollowinglocalnorms,practices,orpublicopinion.

Duringtheearly2000s,thistugofwaramongnationalandlocalauthoritiesandcommunityorganizationsintheSanFranciscoareabecamemoreintenseandcomplex.ICEsteppedupitsraidsandusedthe287(g)provisionofIIRIRA,whichallowedlocalpolicetoroutinelyshareimmigrationinformationwithICEinpreparationfordeportations.The287(g)agreementswerevoluntary,andwereresistedbymanylocalpoliceforcesthroughoutthecountry,includingSanFrancisco’s.Butin2008,ICEinitiated“SecureCommunities”(S-Comm),alsodesignedtoidentifydeportableimmigrantsthroughpolicesharingfingerprintswithICE;thisprogramwasintendedtobemandatory.Whilebothprogramsweresupposedtofocusonimmigrantswhohadcommittedseriousviolentcriminalacts,bothcaughtupanddeportedmanynon-criminalimmigrants.AndinSanFrancisco,bothprogramschallengedlongstandingsanctuarypolicies.

Beginningin2008,localeventsalsosetthestageforashowdownoverthespecificmeaningofSanctuaryCityinSanFrancisco,withafewhigh-profilecasesinwhichjuvenileundocumentedimmigrantscommittedseriousfeloniesafterhavingbeenfreedfromjailforpreviouscrimes.Additionally,someMexicanandCentralAmericanyouthwereinvolvedwithgangsanddrugdealers.Thesecircumstancescreatedabacklash,

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Mirabal,Nancy.

2009.“GeographiesofDisplacement:Latina/os,OralHistory,andThePoliticsofGentrificationinSanFrancisco’sMissionDistrict.”The Public HistorianVol31(2):7-31.

SanFranciscoPlanningDepartment.

2011.SanFranciscoNeighborhoods:Socio-EconomicProfiles:AmericanCommunitySurvey2005-2009.SanFrancisco.

Sassen,Saskia.

1988. The Mobility of Labor and Capital: A Study in International Investment and Labor Flow.Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress.

Wilson,JillandAudreySinger.

2011.“Immigrantsin2010ImmigrantAmerica:ADecadeofChange.”Washington:BrookingsInstitution.MetropolitanPolicyProgram.n

4 Itisworthnoting,forexample,thatevenasICEraidsandarrests/deportationsincreasedafter2008,thereweremixedmessagesfromotherSanFrancisco-basedfederalauthorities.Throughoutthe1990sandevenaslateas2010,theSanFranciscoAsylumoffice(undertheU.S.CitizenshipandImmigrationServicesbranchofDHS)continuedtoreceiveandapprovesignificantnumbersofasylumapplicationsthroughoutNorthernCaliforniaandtheNorthwest.

References

Batalova,JeanneandAaronTerrazas.

2010.“FrequentlyRequestedStatisticsonImmigrantsandImmigrationintheUnitedStates.”Washington:MigrationPolicyInstitute:<http://www.migrationinformation.org/USFocus/display.cfm?ID=818>.

Castells,Manuel.

1983.The City and the Grassroots: A Cross-cultural Theory of Urban Social Movements.Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress.

Godfrey,Brian.

2006.“NewUrbanandEthnicLandscapes.”InContemporary Ethnic Geography,editedbyChristopherAirriesandInesMiyares,331-354.Lanham,MD:RowmanandLittlefield.

2004.“BarrioUnderSiege:LatinoSenseofPlaceinSanFrancisco,California.”InHispanic Spaces, Latino Places,editedbyDanielArreola,79-102.Austin:UniversityofTexasPress.

Hartman,Chester,withSarahCarnochan.

2002.City for Sale: The Transformation of San Francisco. Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress.

localjurisdictionisunresolved.Asofearly2012,SanFranciscoandothercitiesandstatesappeartohavelostsomeoftheirrelativeautonomy,butthistug-of-warcontinues.Additionally,atthelocallevel,thescenarioismorecomplex,andthereisadenserfieldofactors,withsomelocalplayersrepresentingstateorfederalauthorities.4Fromtheperspectiveofmanylow-wageLatinoimmigrantsthemselves,thefuturelooksuncertaininregardtotheireconomicsurvival,theirneighborhoods,andsomebasicrightsinSanFrancisco.

Endnotes

1 Quantitatively,ofallU.S.urbanareas,SanFranciscoCityandCounty(coterminous)havehadoneofthehighestpercentagesoftheforeign-borninitspopulation(34.1percentin2009:BatalovaandTerrazas2010).ThelargerSanFrancisco-Oakland-FremontMetropolitanArearankedfourthintheentireUnitedStatesin2010(WilsonandSinger2011),althoughAsianimmigrantsoutnumberedLatinoimmigrants.

2 Inadditiontothestudiescitedhere(andmanyothers),myresearchfortheSanFranciscochapterofanin-progressbookco-authoredwithNestorRodríguez,Al Norte: Guatemalans in a Changing Migration Region,focusesonGuatemalans,butcoversmanyelementssharedbyotherlow-wageLatinoimmigrantsinSanFranciscofromthelate1970sthroughthefirstdecadeofthetwenty-firstcentury.

3 SeeCampos’website<http://www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=2129>.

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participate.ThenewgroupwascalledAPPOLosAngeles.

MembersofthenewlyformedAPPOLosAngelesdecidedtoengageinaseriesoflocalpublicmobilizationstocallattentiontotherepressionfacedbythemovementofOaxaca.Thesecontinuedthroughthefallof2006andinto2007andincludedactionssuchasthoseontheDayoftheDeadwithcoffinstorepresentthosewhohaddiedintheOaxacaconflict,andanAPPOsadainDecemberthatcombinedthetraditionalposadamarkingthesearchofMaryandJosephforshelterbeforeChrist’sbirthwithsupportfortheAPPO.

Thisseriesofmarches,protestactions,rallies,andmeetingsattheMexicanConsulateintensifiedthenetworkofrelationsnotonlybetweendifferentpartsoftheOaxacancommunity,butalsobetweenOaxacansandotherMexicansandLatinosinLosAngeles.Inaddition,thewaysinwhichthemarcheswereorganizedsuggestedthepowerofsimpletelecommunicationsandelectronicinformationsharinginbinationalorganizingandmobilization.

CellphonecommunicationnotonlyplayedanimportantroleinhelpingAPPOleadersfromdifferentregionsofOaxacatocommunicatewithoneanother,italsofacilitatedsomeofthemostemotionallyintenseanddramaticmomentsoftransborderorganizingbetweenAPPOOaxacaandAPPOLosAngeles.DuringtheLosAngelesmarches,APPOleadersinLosAngelesbegantoestablishdirectconnectionswithAPPOleadersinOaxaca,frequentlycallingthemontheircellphonesandthenholdingthephonesuptomicrophonessothattheycouldbebroadcastthroughouttheparkforeveryonetohear.FIOBactivistGasparRivera-Salgadodescribesthis:

(PRI),whichhadruledinOaxacaforeightyyears(seeStephen2011).

Transborder Activism: APPO Los Angeles

TheIndigenousFrontofBinationalOrganizations(FIOB)1,whichincludessignificantnumbersofteachersandindigenousleaders,wasoneoftheLosAngelesorganizationsmostdirectlyconnectedtoSection22andtotheAPPO.2AsOaxacansinLosAngelesbecameconcernedaboutrepressionagainsttheteachersandsawlivereportsofthemilitantdemonstrationstakingplaceinOaxacaCity,theybegantotalkwithFIOBleaderstofindoutwhattheycoulddotosupportthemovement.

AgroupofFIOBmembersfromLosAngelesandFresnomadeatriptoOaxacainAugust2006andmetdirectlywithAPPOleaders,leadersofSection22,andothersinOaxacaCity,Juxtlahuaca,andinHuajuapandeLeón.RufinoDomínguez,whowasthegeneralcoordinatoroftheFIOBatthetime,metwithEnriqueRuedaPachecowhowastheheadoftheteacher’sunion.OdiliaRomero,whoservedascoordinatorofwomen’saffairsoftheFIOB,alsowentonthetripandvisitedthewomenwhohadoccupiedthepublictelevisionandradiostationsandwentontooccupyseveralcommercialradiostationsinOaxacaaswell.

OneofthedecisionstheFIOBleadershiphadtomakewastodistinguishbetweentheindigenousandmigrantrightsstrugglesthatwerefrontandcenterontheFIOBagendaandotherbroaderissues.SincenotallFIOBmemberswereinagreementwiththeotherorganizationsthatwantedtosupporttheAPPOandSection22inOaxaca,itwasdecidedtoformaseparateAPPOinwhichFIOBmemberscould

OaxacainLosAngeles,LosAngelesinOaxaca:TransborderOrganizinginCaliforniabyLynn Stephen|UniversityofOregon|stephenl@uoregon.edu

InJune2006thePopularAssemblyofthePeoplesofOaxaca(APPO),acoalitionofover300organizations,wasformedintheMexicanstateofOaxacatosupportstrikingteachersandtoconstructamoreinclusiveandparticipatorypoliticalvisionforthestate.Duringthesummerandfallofthatyear,whathadbegunasapeacefuloccupationofOaxacaCity’shistoriccolonialsquarebyteachersdemandinghighersalariesandbettereducationalbenefitsforstudentswastransformedintoawidespread,militantsocialmovement.Thetransformation,andthecreationoftheAPPO,tookplaceasstatepoliceviolentlyattemptedtoevicttheteachersfromthesquare(seeStephen2009).TheteachersbelongedtoSection22oftheNationalUnionofEducationWorkers(SNTE),afamouslyindependentlocalofabout60,000teachersandeducationworkerswithinthelargernationalunion.ItsmemberscomefromalloverthestateofOaxacaandmanyhaverelativeswhohavemigratedtootherpartsofMexicoortotheUnitedStates.Inparticular,manymembersofSection22haverelatives—andretiredformercolleagues—intheLosAngeles,Californiaarea.Itcameasnosurprise,then,thatafteritsinception,themovementbegantodeveloplinkswithfamilymembersandorganizationsinLosAngeles.

Soonafteritsformation,theAPPOheld“mega-marches”ofthousandsofsupporters,occupiedstateandfederalbuildingsandoffices,tookoverthestate’stelevisionandradiostations,constructedbarricadesinmanyneighborhoods,anddevelopedneighborhoodandcommunitycouncilsthatelectedrepresentativestoastatewideprovisionalcounciloftheAPPOinthefallof2006.Thecoalitionquestionedthelegitimacyofthestategovernmentofthen-governorUlisesRuizandtheInstitutionalRevolutionaryParty

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organizationalstrategy.Iattendedtheworkinggrouponbinationalorganizationalstrategies.There,abouttwenty-fivepeoplefocusedonthemesincludinggenderequity,housing,culturalrevitalizationthroughindigenouslanguages,traditionalmedicine,theparticipationoftheelderlyineducation,andstrategiestorecruitandretainwomenandyoungpeopleintheleadershipoftheFIOB.Therewerealsodiscussionsonsustainableeconomicdevelopmentandhowtopromotelocallyproducedproductssuchasfoodandcrafts,aswellastheneedforindigenousinterpreters,doctorsandhealthworkers.Delegatesalsoproposedadoptionoflocalmeasuresthatcouldbetakentopreservewatersources,forests,andtopromoterecycling.

ThegeneralassemblyalsobaredsomeoftheculturaldifferencesthatfrequentlyemergeinthevariouslocalandnationalcontextsinwhichtheFIOBoperates.Oneofthemostinterestingexchangestookplaceduringtheplenarydiscussion.ThefirstsetofproposalstobediscussedincludedamendmentstothestatutesoftheFIOB.AdelegatefromCaliforniaraisedhishandandproposed,“thatweaddtothestatutesthatdecisionsbemadebymeansofasecretballot.”Theproposalsparkedalivelydebate,primarilycriticalofthesuggestion.“Withallduerespecttothecompañero,”repliedanotherdelegate,“wedonotwantasecretvote.Wewanttokeepfollowingourusos y costumbres(customarylawandgovernancepractices)tovote.Weareindigenousandourformofgovernanceistovoteopenlyinourassemblies.”AdiscussionensuedabouttheimportanceofcontinuingtheassemblyformofgovernancefoundinmanyindigenouscommunitiesinOaxaca.Somedelegates,however,alsoraisedtheproblemsassociatedwithopenvoting.Oneofthemstated,“Peoplemightnot

neweraintheFIOB’srelationshipwiththeOaxacastategovernment.Thisnewrelationshipwasmanifestedatthebinationalassemblyheldin2011.

The Seventh General Assembly of the FIOb in Oaxaca

InOctober2011,theFIOBelectednewleadersanddevelopedbinationalpolicyandstrategythroughaseriesofdiscussionsandaplenaryassembly.Delegatesincludedseasonedleaderswhohadbeenatmanypriorassembliesaswellasasignificantnumberwhowerecomingtotheirfirstgeneralassembly.WhatwasmostnotableattheopeningceremoniesoftheassemblywastheopenembraceoftheFIOBbyrepresentativesoftheprogressivewingoftheOaxacanstategovernment.WhilepriorcongressesandFIOBparticipationintheAPPOwerereceivedwithveiledhostilityatbestandattemptsatrepressionatworst,theseventhassemblysignaledtheopensupportofGabinoCué’sgovernmentfortheFIOB.ItalsosuggestedthematurityandpoliticalcloutoftheFIOBasanorganizationinhavingpeoplefromthegovernor’scabinetpresent.ThischangeinrelationshipwasmoststronglymarkedbythepresenceofDomínguezSantosandGerardoAlbino,SecretaryofSocialDevelopmentintheCuégovernment(Cano2011).Anothernotableaspectoftheassemblywasthatofsixnewlyelectedleaders,twoareyoungwomenfromCalifornia(FIOB2011).

Discussionanddebatetookplaceinfourworkinggroupswheredelegatesdebatedintenselyforfivehourstherecommendationstheywouldtaketotheplenarytobevotedon.Broadthemesincludedfordiscussionweredevelopment,migrationandtherightnot tomigrate;binationalmigrationpolicy;andbinational

ItwasveryinterestingtohearthesereportsfromOaxacaatnightinMacArthurPark.WhentheleadersfromOaxacawerespeaking,agreatsilencewouldgooverthecrowdbecausepeoplewerepayingsuchcarefulattention.Theywereabsorbingeverywordthatwassaid,listeningverycarefullytothedescriptionofthemovementinOaxaca.Thisreallyunitedpeopleherewhoweremobilizing.ThiswouldhappenintheparkinfrontoftheMexicanConsulatehere.Andofcoursetheywouldsay,“ThankyousomuchforyoursolidarityinLosAngeles.”

OdiliaRomeroremembersthesemomentsofbroadcastphone-callsashavingagreatemotionalimpactonherandothers.

Ithinkthatforme,themomentthatcausedmethegreatestpersonalimpactwaswhenwewouldhearthecompañeroscryingoverthephonewhenwehadourconnectionswiththem.IrememberanothertimewhenabandfromthecommunityofSolagaplayedtheCanciónMixtecaforthemontheotherendofthetelephoneandEzequielRosalesCarrenosaid,“Thisreallymovesme.”

ThetransbordertiesthatwerestrengthenedthroughAPPOLosAngeleswentontoplayanimportantroleintheelectoralorganizingandcampaigningfortheOaxacagovernorshipin2010.TheelectionofGabinoCué,thestate’sfirstnon-PRIgovernorinmoderntimes,whoranasacandidateoftheoppositionalliance(PRD-PAN-Convergencia)in2006,washelpedbythestrongtiesforgedthroughtheFIOBwithSection22,APPO,andotherOaxacanorganizations.CuéinvitedoneofFIOB’sfounders,RufinoDomínguezSantos,toserveinhisadministrationasdirectoroftheOaxacanInstituteforAttentiontoMigrants.DomínguezSantosaccepted,signalinga

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References

Cano,Arturo.

2011.Suprimirleyesantimigratorias,exigefrentebinacionalaObamayCalderón.LaJornada.18Octubre,2011.Availableat:<http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2011/10/18/politica/010n1pol>.AccessedonJanuary24,2012.

FrenteIndígenadeOrganizacionesBinacionales(FIOB).

2011.IndígenaseligenenOaxacanuevadirigenciadelFIOBycelebran20añosdelucha.8Octubre,2011.Availableat:<http://fiob.org/2011/10/indigenas-eligen-en-oaxaca-nueva-dirigencia-del-fiob-y-celebran-20-anos-de-lucha/>AccessedonJanuary24,2012.

Kissam,Ed.

2012.Personalcommunication.RoughPopulationEstimates—IndigenousPeopleinLosAngelesCounty.

Stephen,Lynn.

2009.“MakingRightsaReality:TheOaxacaSocialMovement2006–Present.”Bilingual(Spanish-English)DigitalEthnographywiththirty-fivevideotestimonialssupplementedwithtext,photographs,anddocuments.Launchdate:May28,2009.<http://www.mraroaxaca.uoregon.edu>.

2011.“TestimonyandHumanRightsViolationsinOaxaca.”Latin American Perspectives38(6):52-68,November2011.n

Endnotes

1 TheFIOBwasfoundedinLosAngelesCaliforniain1991withthenameFrenteMixtecoZapotecoBinacional(FMZB).ThreeyearslatertheorganizationchangeditsnametotheFrenteIndígenaOaxaqueñoBinacional(FIOB)toreflectthepresenceofTriquis,Chatinos,andMixes.In2005,atitsFifthGeneralBinationalAssemblyinOaxaca,Mexicotheorganizationchangeditsnameagainkeepingthesameacronym.ItbecameFrenteIndígenadeOrganizacionesBinacionalestoincludePurépechamembersfromMichoacánandMixtecosfromGuerrero.

2 EdKissam(2012)estimatesthatthereareapproximately1.4millionresidentsinLosAngelescountyborninMexicobasedonthe2010AmericanCommunitySurvey(ACS)dataandapproximately52,000OaxacanindigenousmigrantsinLosAngelescounty.ThisiscalculatedusingACSdataandcorrectingforanundercountandracialmisclassification.Inadditiontherearelikelyanotherapproximately17,000U.S.-bornchildrenofOaxacanindigenousmigrants.Thismakesatotalofapproximately69,000indigenousOaxacansinLosAngelesCounty.

feelfreetovoteiftheyhadtovoteagainstsomeonewhowasarelativeorsomeonewhohadmorepowerthanthemintheorganization.”Inconventionalelectionsthesecretballotisadefensemechanismagainstpoliticalpartymanipulation,buthere,theproposalwasdefeatedinavotebydelegateswhoraisedtheirhandswiththeircredentialcardswavingtobecounted,forandagainst.ThismomentcapturedthehybridnatureofexperienceandideasthatarefoundwithintheFIOB.

ThepastsixyearshaveseentheFIOBmovefromapositionofdirectconflictwiththestategovernmentofOaxacatooneofcoalitionandcooperationinareasthatmakesenseforitsagenda.Withmorewomenandyouthinitsleadership,theFIOBcontinuestobroadenitsappealthroughatransborderdiscourseofindigeneity,alongwitheconomic,human,political,andlaborrightsformigrants.ItsbroadreachandclaimontheregionknownasOaxacalifornia(thestatesofOaxaca,BajaCaliforniadelNorte,andCalifornia)offersinnovativestrategiesforbuildingregionalpoliticalpowerandpresencethroughsustainedandcoordinatedtransborderorganizingatlocal,regional,andnationallevels.

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conferencehotel.TheGran BailewillbeheldonFridayeveningintheMarriottitself,andhopefullywillconcludeintimeforthe8:30a.m.panelsonSaturday!

TheSanFranciscoCongresswillhavealmosttoomanyhighlightstomentioninthisspace,butnonethelesswewouldliketodrawyourattentiontoafew.FormerUruguayanpresidentTabaréVázquezisscheduledtoaddresstheLASAmembershiponFridayevening.Aspecialpresidentialpanelon“Wikileaks,Transparency,andInvestigativeJournalism”willanalyzetheimpactofWikileaksonLatinAmerica.Otherpresidentialpanelswillinclude“LatinAmericaandChinainthe21stCentury,”“CubainTimesofChange,”“ThePowerofNumbers:WhatLatinAmericanistsCanLearnfrom200YearsofCaribbeanEconomicHistory,”and“E pur se muove:NewMiddleClassesinLatinAmerica.”OnThursdayevening,LASA|willholdaspecialmemorialsessioninhonorofGuillermoO’Donnell,thedistinguishedpoliticalscientist(andLASA’sKalmanSilvertAwardrecipientin2003)whosadlypassedawayinNovember.

AnotherhighlightoftheSanFranciscoCongresswillbeamajortechnologicaladvanceforLASA.WorkingwithafirmcalledAtivSoftware,theLASASecretariathasdesigneda“LASA2012”appthatwillrunonsmartphonesandtabletcomputers.TheapphasbothanAppleiOSversion(compatiblewithiPhonesandiPads)aswellasanAndroidversioncompatiblewithnumerousotherhandhelddevices.ThisingeniousapplicationletsyoubrowsetheLASAprogram,createyourownpersonalschedule,viewmapsofthemeetingroomsandexhibitareas,subscribetotheLASATwitterfeed,andtakenotesatpanelsandemailthemtoyourself.IfyouaresearchingforafriendorcolleagueatLASA,justtouchingtheirnameonthescreenwill

OntheEveofSanFrancisco2012bygabrieLa nouzeiLLeS,ProgramCo-Chair|PrincetonUniversity|gnouzeil@princeton.edu

and tiMothy J. power,ProgramCo-Chair|UniversityofOxford|timothy.power@lac.ox.ac.uk

on lasa2012

presidentsofLASA’scounterpartassociationsinChina,Japan,Korea,thePhilippines,Australia,andNewZealand.ForourcolleaguesinAsiaandthePacific,traveltothisLASAmeetingwillbeunusuallyconvenient,andwelookforwardtotheenhanceddialoguethatissuretoresult.

FollowingtheinnovationofourpredecessorsinToronto,JavierCorralesandNinaGerassi-Navarro,LASAwillonceagainholdPre-CongressWorkshopsonWednesdayafternoon,priortotheofficialopeningoftheconference.TheseworkshopsrepresentLASA’songoingcommitmenttotheprofessionaldevelopmentofourmembership,particularlyyoungscholars,andtheresponsehasbeenenthusiastic.InadditiontothepublishingworkshoprunbyLARReditorPhilipOxhorn—atremendouslyusefuleventthathasbecomeapopularfixtureatourCongresses—wewillhavethematictallereson“LatinAmericanIndependenceintheAgeofRevolution,”“RadicalWomen:BodyandSpaceinLatinAmericanArtbetweenthe1960sandthe1980s,”and“GettingtheMostoutofLarge-ScaleSurveyProjects:DevelopingandAnalyzingLAPOP’sAmericasBarometer.”RegistrationfortheseWednesdayeventsisnowclosed,butwewishtodrawattentiontotheintellectualcreativityandexcellentnetworkingopportunitiesofferedbythisnewLASAtradition.

AllLASAmemberscanfondlynamethetwospecialsocialeventsthatareheldateveryCongress,anditistimetomarkyourcalendars.TheWelcomingReceptiononWednesdayeveningwillbeheldinthebeautifulsettingoftheContemporaryJewishMuseum<www.thecjm.org>,locatedat736MissionStreetadjacenttotheMarriottMarquis,ourofficial

The30thInternationalCongressofLASAisjustweeksaway.Aswenotedinourlastreporttothemembership,theresponsetothecallforpapersfortheSanFranciscoCongresswastrulyoutstanding,withthetotalnumbersofindividualandpanelproposalshavingincreasedalmost70percentabovethenumberofproposalsforLASA2010inToronto.ClearlythereisenthusiasmabouttheattractivesettingoftheCongressandaboutthechancetoreflectwithLASAcolleaguesontheconferencetheme,thebicentennialsofindependence.WecontinueworkingcloselywithLASAPresidentMariaHermíniaTavaresdeAlmeida,withtheLASASecretariatinPittsburgh,withthe68trackchairswhohaveorganizedourprogram,andespeciallywiththeBayAreaLocalArrangementsCommitteeinadvanceoftheWelcomingReceptiononWednesday,May23rd.

Theconferencetheme,“TowardaThirdCenturyofIndependenceinLatinAmerica,”invitesustohistoricalreflection,butthismeetingwillalsobenotablymarkedbygeography.ThisLASACongresswillbethefirstinthecontinentalUnitedStatessince2004,andthisisalsothefirstWestCoastLASAsinceLosAngelesin1992.LatinAmerica’srelationshipwithAsiahaschangeddramaticallyinrecentyears,andweareusingourbeautifullocalsettingofSanFranciscotorecognizethedeepeningtieswiththePacificworld.Thestartlingpaceofcommercialandeconomicinteractionbetweenthetworegionshasfaroutstrippedthegrowthofrelevantacademicexpertise,butLASAcanplayaroleinenhancingAsianunderstandingofLatinAmericaandviceversa.ThusyouwillnoticealargenumberofeventsfocusedonAsiaandparticularlyonChina.Forexample,onSaturdayeveningtherewillbeaspecialsessionfeaturingthe

15

leadingtoafixedquantityofmeetingroomsandlittleroomformaneuver,itisimpossiblefortheAssociationtoadjustsmoothlytosuchfluctuations.Whatissometimesinterpretedasexcessive“selectivity”isoftenanadaptationtoimperfectinformationandchangingcircumstances.InourfinalreporttotheAssociation,wewillhavemoretosayonthismatter,butfornowweagreewholeheartedlywiththeECandwithmanyLASAcolleaguesthatthemovetoannualCongressesislongoverdue.Atthesametime,wearetremendouslygratefultoeachandeveryoneofour68TrackChairs,whoreviewedandrankedseveralthousandLASAproposalswhilemaintainingthehigheststandardsofdedicationandprofessionalismthroughouttheprocess.

WelookforwardtoseeingyouinthearchitecturalandculturaljewelthatisSanFrancisco,California,inlessthantwomonths.TheBayArea,withitscolonial,political,multicultural,plurilingual,andtransnationalbackground,isanappropriateandinspiringsettingforthedialoguesconductedbyourAssociation.  n

showyoualloftheirconferenceroles—nomoreflippingtotheindexinthebackoftheprintedprogram.Mostbrilliantly,theappcanbeupdatedbyLASAinrealtime(e.g.toreflectnewprogrammingoralast-minuteroomchange).Ofcoursethehard-copyprogrambookwillcontinuetobedistributed,butwearecertainthatLASAmemberswillfindthenewapptobeextremelyuser-friendly.Youwillshortlyreceiveemailedinstructionsonhowtodownloadtheapp.

AstheCongressapproaches,wewouldliketoemphasizethatwehavemadeanenergeticeffortstoreachouttomanyscholarsandresearchersintheUnitedStatesandabroad,manyofwhomwerenotacquaintedwithLASAorhaveparticipatedinfrequentlyintheInternationalCongresses.Thediversityofour68-memberProgramCommitteeistestamenttotheseefforts,asisthecontinuedgenerosityofLASAwithregardtointernationaltravelgrants.ThankstothegenerosityoftheOpenSocietyInstitute,theTinkerFoundation,andtheInter-AmericanFoundation,LASAhasbeenabletoofferover250travelgrantstomembersresidinginLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean,includingatleast50grantstograduatestudents.

Finally,wewishtoacknowledgethattherehasbeensomedissatisfactionwithourinabilitytofindroomforeverypanelandpaperproposalthatwassubmittedforSanFrancisco.InpartthishastodowiththedramaticgrowthinLASAoverthepastdecade,butinpartitalsohastodowiththesharpincreaseindemandinasingle18-monthconferencecycle.Therewere663individualpaperproposalsforTorontocomparedto1362forSanFrancisco;theequivalentfiguresforpanelsessionsrosefrom744to1020.WithLASAsitesscoutedandcontractedyearsinadvance,

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Pacífico),andManuelRuiz(Meanders);andfromtheUSA,directorMariaTeresaRodríguezandproducerKathrynSmithPyle(Children of Memory);ProfessorJeffGould(La palabra en el bosque);andscholar,author,filmmaker,andrecipientofmultipleawardsSaulLandau(Will the Terrorists Please Stand Up).SanthoshDaniel,DirectorofProgramsforTheGlobalFilmInitiative,willintroducetheworkoftheorganization.

IwouldliketoextendspecialthanksforthesupportandcollaborationofferedtotheLASAFestivalbytheICAU(UruguayanFilmandAudiovisualInstitute),INCAA(NationalInstituteofCinemaandAudiovisualArts,Argentina),andtheproduceranddistributorWandaVision.

HopetoseeyouallinSanFrancisco.

Theviolenceofthe1970sand80sisrevisitedfromnewperspectives,withtestimonialdocumentariesbyandaboutthechildrenofChileanmilitants(The Chilean Building and Generation Exile).  Also,theFestivalispresentingafilmexploringtheless-knownquestionofchildrenabductedinElSalvadorduringthearmedconfrontation(Children of Memory).  Otherthemesexploredinthefestivalare:LaborandtheEnvironment,PuertoRicanStudies,StagedDance,Memory,andTrialsoftheParamilitary.1

ThefestivalwillalsopaydeservedhomagetothecommitmentoffilmmakersandloversofLatinAmericancinema.TherewillbeanimpeccabledocumentaryonthefilmmakerJorgePrelorán,andtwofilmson“cinematographicactivism”:afictionalandcomicevocationoftheworkoftheUruguayanCinematheque(A Useful Life),andadocumentaryontheCinemathequeoftheThirdWorld(C3M). 

Agroupofdirectorsandproducerswillattendthefestival:fromColombia,directorsSamuelCórdoba(Tumaco

ThisneweditionoftheFestivaloffersthreeintensivedaysofdocumentaryandfictioncinema,whichrangefromimportantrecenthistoricaldramaproductionstoexperimentalcinema.  AnimportantinnovationforthiseditionistheworkweareinauguratingwithspecialistsinLatinAmericancinema,whosespecialcuratorshipforthefestivalfeaturesrecentcinemafromColombiaandUruguay:PedroAdriánZuluagaandJuanaSuárez(Colombia);andGustavoRemedi(Uruguay).  InadditiontothesetwoFestivalfociandinkeepingwiththethemeoftheCongress,“TowardstheThirdCenturyofIndependence,”theFestivalpresentsaseriesonthe Libertadores,thenationalheroesofAmericanIndependence,fourfilmsmadeinconnectionwiththeBicentennialsfocusingonthefiguresofJoséArtigas,ManuelBelgrano,JoséMartí,andJosédeSanMartín.   

ThiseditionoftheFestivalalsoincludesdocumentariesonLiberationTheology,withafilmaboutBishopOscarRomero,andanotheron comunidades de base inElSalvador(La palabra en el bosque).  

FilmFestivalatLASA2012bycLaudia FerMan |UniversityofRichmond|cferman@richmond.edu

on lasa2012

1 Duetospaceconstraintsweareincludinghereonlyfilmtitles.  Foracompleterecord,pleaseglanceatthefestivalprogram.  n

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LASA2012Exhibitors

on lasa2012

Alternative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples

Altexto. Editoriales Universitarias y Académicas de México

Americas Media Initiative (Chiapas Media Project)

Association Book Exhibit

Bolerium Books

Cambridge University Press

Center for Latin American Studies, University of California, Berkeley

CIDE (Centro de Investigación y Docencias Económicas)

CIESAS (Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social)

CSIC: Departamento de Publicaciones

Cubanabooks

David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Stuides (Harvard University)

Duke University Press

El Colegio de la Frontera Norte

El Colegio de México

First Peoples: New Directions in Indigenous Studies

FLACSO Ecuador

FLACSO México

Gale, Cengage Learning

Global Exchange

Hackett Publishing Co.

Haymarket Books

Hispanic American Periodicals Index/ Latin Americanist Research Resources Project

Iberoamericana Editorial Velvert

Institute of International Education and IAF Fellowship Program

Instituto Internacional de Literatura Iberoamericana (IILI)

Latin American & Caribbean Art and Culture

Latin American Book Source, Inc.

Latin American Perspectives

Lexington Books

Libros Latinos

Lynne Rienner Publishers

Macmillan

Middlebury Language Schools and Schools Abroad

Nicaragua Photo Testimony

OCEAN PRESS

Oxford University Press

Palgrave Macmillan

Pathfinder Press

Penguin Group (USA)

Penn State University Press

Project Muse

Random House

Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group

Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group

Stanford University Press

The Edwin Mellen Press

The Scholar Choice

The University of Texas Press

The University of Wisconsin Press

Universidad de Chile/ Economics and Business

University of Arizona Press

University of California Press

University of New Mexico Press

University of North Carolina Press

University of Notre Dame Press

University of Oklahoma Press

University of Pittsburgh Press

University Press of Florida

US Air Force/ Air & Space Power Journal

Vanderbilt University Press

Visual Aids For Latin American Studies

Washington Office on Latin America

Wiley-Blackwell

lAsA combined Table

Pluto Journals

Temple University Press

Lectorum Publications

Kumarian Press (Stylus Publishing)

Federal University of São Carlos/ Sociology Department

Begoña Leyra Fatou

Berghahn Books, Inc.

Saint Joseph’s University Press

Ingrid Galster, Universidad de Paderborn

Syracuse University Press

Food First/ Institute for Food and Development Policy

The University of Chicago Press

The MIT Press

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Contracted hotels

TheSanFranciscoMarriottMarquisisthemainsiteforLASA2012.

SanFranciscoMarriottMarquis(Congress hotel)554thStreetSanFrancisco,CA94103Tel:(415)896-1600

Overflow hotels:

IntercontinentalSanFrancisco888HowardStreetSanFrancisco,CA,94103Tel:(415)6166500

HolidayInnGoldenGateway(LASAwillprovidea3-daytransportationticketuponyourregistrationatthehotel)1500VanNessAvenueSanFrancisco,CA94109Tel:(415)4414000

TheMosserHotel54FourthStreetSanFrancisco,CA94103Tel:(415)9864400

Transportation from the Airport to hotels

SanFranciscoInternationalAirport(SFO)islocatedabout14milesfromthehotel.Airportshuttles,taxisandlimousinesareavailabletothehotelfromSFOaswellasthesubway,BART.(Gotothetransportationtabtofinddifferentdiscounts).Carscanberentedattheairportandthehotels.

Check-In

ForLASA2012,registeredparticipantswillreceiveinadvanceanamebadgeandbadgeholderbypostalmail.Theprogrambookandotherinformationwillbegivenatthetimeofcheck-in.

Participantsareurgedtogivethemselvesampletimetocheckinbeforetheirscheduledsessions.IndividualsplanningonattendingThursdaymorningsessionsshouldconsidercheckinginat7:00pmto10:00pmonWednesday,ifatallpossible.(Atanyrate,peopleplanningonattendingtheWelcomingReceptionandAwardsCeremonyonWednesdaynightwillberequiredtoweartheirbadges.)

On-Site Registration

IndividualsregisteringonsiteshouldproceedtotheOn-SiteRegistrationareatopaytherequiredfeesandreceivetheirmaterials.MasterCardandVisacreditcards,checkswrittenonU.S.-basedbanks,andU.S.currencywillbeaccepted.

Congress Sessions and Proceedings

SessionswillbeheldintheSanFranciscoMarriottMarquisHotel.CongresspapersreceivedbytheSecretariatbyMay1stdeadlinewillbepostedtotheLASAwebsitebeforethestartofthemeeting.

LASA2012LocalLogistics

Registration

Asinthepast,allLASACongressparticipantsandattendeesmustberegistered;noexceptionscanbemade.ThedeadlineforpaperpresenterstopreregisterwasDecember15,2011.TheSecretariatextendedthedeadlinethroughtheendofMarch2012inordertogiveparticipantsmoretimetomakearrangementstoattend.Preregisteredparticipantsshouldhavereceivedtheirnamebadgesbypostalmail.RegistrationandCheck-InAreaswillbelocatedintheSanFranciscoMarriottMarquis,attheYerbaBuenaBallroom(LowerB2Level)forLASA2012.ParticipantsareencouragedtocheckinfortheCongressstartingonWednesday23thfrom7:00pmto10:00pm.Registrationandcheck-inhours:

Wednesday23,7:00pm–10:00pm Thursday24,7:00am–8:00pm Friday25,7:00am–8:00pm Saturday26,7:30am–2:00pm

on lasa2012

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Constancias

ConstanciasforLASA2012maybepickeduponSaturday26attheRegistrationArealocatedintheSanFranciscoMarriottMarquisHotelattheYerbaBuenaBallroom(LowerB2Level).Ifyouareleavingearlier,youmaypickitupafteryourpanelpresentation.  n

Audio/Visual Equipment

LASAwillbeprovidinganLCDprojectorandscreenaswellasalaptopwiththeproperconnectionsineachsessionmeetingroom.Separateaudioandvideoequipmentwillnotbeprovided.AnyvideopresentationsshouldberecordedonDVDoranyothermediasotheymaybeviewedviathelaptop.Presenterswillberequiredtoprovidetheirownspeakersifneeded.AVstaffwillbeavailableifparticipantsexperienceanyproblemswiththeequipment.Internetconnectionswillnotbeavailableinsessionmeetingrooms.

Child Care

LASAwillsubsidizethecostofchildcareforacceptedparticipantswhoaretakingtheirchildrentoSanFrancisco.LASAwillprovidereimbursementsattherateofUS$10.00perhourforonechildandUS$12.00fortwoormorechildren,foramaximumof10hours.

LASAmaximumresponsibilityperfamilywillbe$100.00foronechildand$120.00fortwoormorechildren.AparentwhobillsLASAforchildcaremustbea2012memberoftheAssociationandaregisteredattendeeofLASA2012.Toreceivereimbursement,theparentmustsubmittheoriginalbillfromthecaregiver,withthename(s)ofthechild(ren),andthedatesoftheservice,totheLASASecretariatonorbeforeJuly15,2012.

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high-incomecountriesunderaliberalforeigntradeandinvestmentregimeandhavebeenconsideredsuccessstoriesintheirownregions,andsometimesbeyond.Finally,wechosecountriesfromdifferentpartsoftheworldtoexploretheimportanceoflocationandtimeinacomparisonofupgradingexperiences.

Eachauthorexaminesthenatureofstructuralchangeandproductivitygrowthinoneofthefivecountries.Weanalyzehowthedevelopmentandinteractionofsocialandfirmlevelcapabilities,thenatureofforeigndirectinvestment(FDI),theroleandimpactofdifferentgovernmentpolicies,andlocationandtime-specificityaccountfortheparticularupgradingoutcomesofthecountries.DuetospaceconstraintsIlimitthediscussionoftheprojectresultstothreelessons.

First,thecasestudiesshowthatincomeconvergencedoesnotnecessarilyimplycapabilityconvergenceandbroad-basedupgrading.Inatleastthreeofthecases,anassessmentofdevelopmentsuccessbasedongrowthdiffersconsiderablyfromanassessmentbasedoncapabilityadvancement.Second,thecountrystudiesdemonstratethatstrategic,proactiveandcoherentgovernmentpoliciesfortheadvancementofsocialandfirm-levelcapabilitiesareacriticaldeterminantofupgrading,bothatthecountrylevelandinthedevelopmentof“pocketsofexcellence.”Thus,theprojectmakesanimportantcontributiontotheongoingdiscussionabouttheroleofindustrialpoliciesinaddressingpro-growthstructuralchangeandbroad-basedupgrading.

Third,thetrans-regionalcomparisondemonstratestheperilofneglectingthedevelopmentoflocalfirmcapabilitiesSmallcountriesaremorepronetorelyonFDIforupgrading.Indeed,inallfivecountries,

thatofChina;by2010,ithadfallenbelowthatofChina(seeaccompanyingchart).

ProducersinLatinAmericancountriesincreasinglyfindthattheycannolongercompetewithproducersinlowwagecountriesintheexportofstandardizedproducts,butthattheyhavenotdevelopedthecapabilitiestocompete,onabroadbasis,intheexportsofskillandknowledge-intensivegoodsandservices.MiddleincomecountriesinLatinAmericaandelsewherenowruntheriskofbeingtrapped,ofbeingpushedontothelowroadofchange,wheredecliningwages,notrisingproductivity,formthebasisforcompetitivenessandgrowth.

Tounderstandbetterhowcountriescanachievebroad-basedupgradingtoconfrontthemiddleincometrap,wedevelopedananalyticalframeworkthatlinksthemacroeconomiccontextwithmicroeconomicbehaviorandmesoeconomicconditions.Thiscapabilities-basedapproachadvancesthetheoreticaldebatebymergingstructuralist,evolutionaryandglobalvaluechainanalysis.Itdeliberatelyshiftsthefocusfromgrowthtoupgrading,andthustolearningprocesses,policyinterventions,andtheinteractionsamongsocialandfirm-levelcapabilitiesinthecontextofpathdependencyandlocationandtime-specificcontingencies.

Thecountrystudiesusethecapabilities-basedapproachtoanalyzeupgradingprocessesandoutcomesinfivesmalllatecomers.WefocusedonsmallcountriesbecausemostmiddleincomecountriesaresmallanddonothavetheadvantagesofinternalmarketsizeandbargainingpoweroflargelatecomerslikeBrazil,India,andChina,andthustendtobemoreopentotradeandinvestment.Wechosecountriesthatnarrowedtheincomegapwith

CanLatinAmericaEscapetheMiddleIncomeTrap?LessonsfromaTrans-RegionalComparisonbyeva pauS|MountHolyokeCollegeMA|Projectleader|epaus@mtholyoke.edu

Inthefallof2009,wereceivedaMellon-LASAgranttoexplorepolicysolutionsforovercomingthemiddleincometrap.Ourworkinggroupmetseveraltimes,andwepresentedpreliminaryfindingsattheLASAmeetingsinToronto(fall2010),ataconferenceinCostaRicaorganizedbyJoséCorderofromtheUniversityofCostaRica(spring2011)andattheSASEmeetingsinMadrid(summer2011).ThefinalresultsoftheprojectwillbepublishedinStudies in Comparative International Developmentthissummer.Theforthcomingspecialissueincludesanintroductoryarticlethatlaysoutthecommonanalyticalframeworkandsummarizesthemainresults(EvaPaus,MountHolyokeCollege),andfivearticleswithindividualcountrystudies:Chile(EstebanPérezCaldentey,ECLAC);theDominicanRepublic(DiegoSanchez-Ancochea,OxfordUniversity);Jordan(LuisAbugattasMajluf,internationalconsultant);Ireland(EvaPaus);andSingapore(PenelopePrime,MercerUniversity).Belowisabriefsummaryoftheprojectandsomeofthemainfindings.

Thehighroadtoeconomicdevelopmentinvolvesaprocessofstructuralchangeinwhichproductionshiftsincreasinglytowardsactivitieswithgreatervalueaddedandknowledge-intensity.ThefailureofWashingtonConsensuspoliciestoengendersuchstructuraltransformationhasbecomemoreapparentinrecentyears,asinternationalcompetitionhasintensifiedandChinahasbecomeastrongcompetitorinlowaswellashigh-techgoods.Middleincomecountriesfindthemselvesbetweenarockandahardplace.Ontheonehand,theyhavenotmadeheadwayincatchingupwiththehigh-incomecountriesoftheOECD,withapersistingincomegapofmorethan80percent.Ontheotherhand,theyhavelostgroundvis-à-visChinaatanastonishingrate.In1980,theiraverageGDPpercapitawasseventimeshigherthan

special projects

21

governmentsenvisionedFDItoplayakeyroleinthecountry’sdevelopment.ButthecasestudiesdemonstratethatproductionbyTransnationalCorporation(TNC)affiliatesinthehostcountrydoesnotautomaticallycontributetoincreasinglocalfirmcapabilities,andthat,inthecontextofchangingnationalandglobalconditions,reallocationofTNCproductionmaybemorelikelythanupgradingofTNCproductioninthehostcountry.

Thecomparativecasestudiessuggestthatthebestshotatanescapefromthemiddleincometrapisashiftintheanalyticalfocusfromgrowthtocapability-accumulationandashiftinthepolicyfocusfromthecurrentfaithinamarket-ledprocessofupgradingtoanembraceofaproactivestatetosupportthesynergisticadvancementofsocialandfirm-levelcapabilities.Effectivestatesmaybehardtobuild,buttheyhavebecomeessentialinthecurrentprocessofChina-dominatedglobalization.

Source: Calculations based on World Development Indicators.

GDP p.c. of Middle Income Countries excl. China Relative to China and to High-Income OECD(constant 2005 PPP)

The Latin American Studies Association (LASA) is the largest

professional association in the world for individuals and

institutionsengagedinthestudyofLatinAmerica.Withover

5,500members,thirty-fivepercentofwhomresideoutsidethe

UnitedStates,LASAistheoneassociationthatbringstogether

experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse

occupationalendeavors,acrosstheglobe.

LASA’smission is to foster intellectual discussion, research, and

teaching on Latin America, the Caribbean, and its people

throughout theAmericas, promote the interests of its diverse

membership,andencouragecivicengagementthroughnetwork

buildingandpublicdebate.

416BellefieldHallUniversityofPittsburghPittsburgh,PA15260

lasa.international.pitt.edu