You will see a longer list of articles on this week's blog post. Let me explain. The first three articles all deal with the case of Elba Esther Gordillo, the (until recently) head of Mexico's powerful teacher's union and the subject of recent imprisonment and prosecution for embezzlement of funds and abuses of power. I find this to be a fascinating case that highlights a lot of the topics we have talked about on the blog (and in class) so far this semester. If you are worried about the higher number of article's on this week's blog feel free to read only two of the three articles on Elba Esther Gordillo. That should give you enough context to understand the basic details of the case and answer any reading quiz question. The fourth article briefly details the most recent efforts by the Brazilian police and military to 'pacify' Rio de Janeiro's favelas. I'm interested to continue the conversation started in Friday's class about how the relations between the government, favela residents, inequality, crime, and Brazil's international image. The last link leads you to a short video about a commercial agreement signed between the Guatemalan sugar industry and the European Union. I find this case to provoke interesting questions about the whether the West should push for domestic reforms in Latin America and, if so, how.
The articles:
La Maestra of Mexico faces her biggest challenge
Power in Mexico: The Teacher in detention
Luxury Villas, Designer Labels: Jailed Mexico Union Boss' U.S. Oasis
Brazil troops move into Rio airport shanty towns
A trade deal with a difference, but will it improve workers' lives?
Discussion questions:
1) How do you interpret the recent detention of Elba Esther Gordillo? Is this more of an effort to crack down on corruption and special interests or is it targeted justice aimed at weakening political enemies?
2) What approach should the government of Rio de Janeiro take to limit crime and insecurity in the short-run?
3) Should Western governments aim to shape the practices of Latin American governments with respect to issues like labor rights, the environment, and the treatment of minority groups? If not, why? If so, what would be the best mechanisms for applying this pressure?
Note: please remember that those of you signed up for longer blog posts should be using some form of citation to reference content from the assigned articles or any other content you wish to bring in for your post.
Enjoy!
The favelas bring to light the debate considering the extent of the sphere of influence the federal government should take. At the crux of this debate is the question of what the primary function of a (federal) government is. If its function is to provide safety, under the ideals of legal adherence, the federal government would be justified in increasing military and police force presence in the favelas to illuminate illegal activity. However, if its function is to provide economically for its citizens, there is a question of why this end must be achieved by the entity of the federal government itself as opposed to the localized ruling bodies (gangs) that fund local endeavors in housing, schooling, infrastructure, etc. Furthermore, if its function is to secure liberty of each citizen, the inhabitants of the favelas may be seen as having the right to remain in their current habitation. This additionally brings forth the notion of property rights. When Europeans first settled the colonial Americas, much dispute arose from differing views of land ownership. The” illegality” of the favelas in property rights is contested by the actual presence of the citizens living there. One element which appears to be a foundation of the issue is the idea of gangs and their dominance through violence. This seems to be an issue with no clearly established solution; thus, Brazilian favelas face a future with uncertain outcome. The most effective plan of action must include education to inform future generations of the negatives of gang activity and thus end the cycle of such social entities. In the short term, the benefits gained from compliance with gangs in favela settings must be provided by alternative sources to diminish dependence upon gangs and thus undermine their activity in favelas.
ReplyDeleteThe question of Gordillo’s imprisonment is significant not so much in light of whether or not her money has “stacked the deck” in Mexican politics or whether her large fortunes were gained “by her own sweat” or on the backs of others. The main concern of the issue is incredible inequality and lack of access to opportunity which result from her policy and lifestyle. It is a concern that someone in a position of advocacy for others would consider herself entitled to such incredible (financial) advantage over others (whether gained fairly or not). Additionally, her lavish manner of living disconcerting, considering the desperate state of public education in Mexico. The question of whether Gordillo’s arrest was an action of diminishing corruption is unclear, but the event, nonetheless, provides an opportunity to readdress the critical issue of education and to reform the public education system in Mexico which should not be bypassed.
A key phrase in considering Rio de Janeiro’s attempts to pacify the favelas is short-run. It very well may be a good plan to clean up these favelas through police presence now, but after 2016, there is still a great chance of these shantytowns returning to their previous state. The government is dead-set on cleaning up the city in anticipation of the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016, but unless there is a genuine concerted effort to eradicate crime for the sake of the favelas instead of that of the coming sporting events, then the favelas post-2016 may return to their prior condition. Hopefully those who have been positively affected by the increased police presence and suppression of the drug lords recently will call for more protection and eradication of crime in the future beyond the Olympics.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with what Lizzy said. I feel that Rio police taking over these favelas now is going to only be for the short-run. If they really cared so much and wanted to truly put an end to the crime and drug-trafficking that goes on in these shanty towns, they would have done something before now. I believe that the only reason they are putting so much effort into stopping crime in the favelas now is solely because of the World Cup and Olympics. I believe that after the Olympics is over, they are going to stop caring and the crime and drug presence is going to go back to where it has been previously. I believe they need to think of a better long-term solution for the problems in favelas, instead of only when it's convenient for them and when Rio is going to be hosting such huge events. I also agree with Lizzy in that I hope that the current police presence in Rio's favelas will have a positive effect and make the residents ask for more protection even after the Olympics in 2016.
ReplyDeleteElba Ester Gordillo’s imprisonment comes at a very interesting time. Literally the day after Nieto signed new education reform papers, she was charged with embezzling over $200 million. After leading the most powerful Union in Latin America for the last twenty years and living an excessively lavish lifestyle, she has finally run into trouble.
ReplyDeleteI look at her detention as more of an effort to crack down on corruption and special interests rather than targeted justice aimed at weakening political enemies, however, I can see elements of both in this event. Gordillo has been seen as the icon of everything that is wrong with education in Mexico and embezzling $200 million from the teachers’ union is no small feat. But not only did she take that money, she did it while holding the position of president. Putting the previously ‘untouchable’ Gordillo in prison essentially is a warning shot to others that may follow similar malpractice of embezzling funds, especially in high up positions.
Imprisoning Gordillo can also be looked at as the removal of a “potential political obstacle” for Nieto. This move could be a warning shot in two ways: 1. To curb corruption and 2. To warn other union leaders to stay out of Nieto’s way.
Regardless, many Mexican’s are content with Gordillo’s arrest. Many “loathed her stranglehold on the struggling public schools”, and although she still continues to maintain political power, this turn of events has definitely sparked something that is sure to become much bigger in the near future – especially regarding education reform in Mexico.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/27/elba-esther-gordillo-mexico-union-embezzlement
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/27/3257391/arrest-of-mexico-teacher-union.html
I won't deny that maybe Nieto is trying to clear his path. Regardless of the possibility, though, Gordillo's arrest is a clear step toward cleaning up the corruption in Mexico. I'm surprised the people and the Mexican government let her steal from them for more than two decades, recognizing all the while her suspicious spending habits. It was only a matter of time before someone caught up with her.
DeleteIt would be unfortunate if the Mexican judicial system, apparently familiar with procedural error and inefficiency, fails to carry this case through. Bringing Gordillo to justice is an important step toward transparency in Mexico. Then, for Nieto to prove that his efforts aren't simply political, he can go after the next union crook: Carlos Romero Deschamps.
I agree with both Colton and Rachee above - the possibility of dual incentives always exists, but I would like to believe that Nieto's biggest incentive for detaining Gordillo was to begin to curb the corruption that has plagued many Latin American countries for decades. In my opinion, the fact that he is simultaneously pushing for education reform supports this - that it is not necessarily a matter of political opposition but rather that he would like to address corruption from all levels. Gordillo's detention symbolizes a crack-down on those at the very top, one of the most influential figures in Mexican politics, while the large-scale education reform addresses the systematic changes that will take place for better monitoring of teachers' qualifications and salaries. As Rachee pointed out, action to end corruption will only be significant if the judicial branch supports Nieto's efforts. If this case follows historical patterns and Gordillo is not actually found guilty, this will only reinforce a corrupt political culture. Whatever decision is made by the courts - guilty or not - Gorillo's situation will act as a model for other politicians around the country. Politicians will either realize that these types of actions will no longer be tolerated, or that they can continue to govern corruptly without being held accountable.
DeleteI also agree the arrest of Elba Ester Gordillo is a political, and in this case a crackdown on corruption that plagues the Mexican education system. The amount of corruption in Mexico is unbelievable and I have had direct and indirect contact with it. My uncle was a high ranking official in the office of education of the state of Jalisco. A lot of people would come to him to find a job as a teacher, as he was capable of this doing regardless of if the candidate had a teacher certification. He was actually agains this practice, but he understood that this was the only way the system works, and thanks to him a lot of people have stable, well paying jobs, and have been lifted out of the extreme poverty that rules the "rancho" where I grew up. I really hope this cleansing of corrupt union leaders and politicians keeps going. The article mentions Carlos Romero Deschamps, whom is the union leader of the petrol workers in Mexico, and it is fascinating to read about the wealth he has accumulated as a corrupt union leader. I really encourage to look into him, it is truly unbelievable.
DeleteThis may be a weird take, but I found the most disturbing example of Gordillo's corruption to be the way in which jobs were acquired. The article discusses the two ways in which people could get jobs under Gordillo's presidency: Either by inheriting or buying the job. THis is so disturbing because it allows no opportunity for any movement toward equality for those looking for teaching jobs. In addition, it secures Gordillo's power among this sector because those who determine her vote are in many ways indebted to her.
DeleteI agree that Gordillo's arrest was first and foremost an act to cut down on corruption in the education system in Mexico. It was only a matter of time before people caught on and her actions caught up to her, by cracking down on her Nieto is not only clearing a path for the reform to clean up the education system, he is also making her an example for other major influential political leaders to hopefully deter them from committing similar crimes and corruption in other areas of Mexico's political systems.
DeleteHUGO CHAVEZ is DEAD!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/world/americas/obit-venezuela-chavez/?hpt=hp_t1
DeleteWhile it is important for the government of Rio to improve conditions in time for the World Cup and the Olympics, I think the problem is that they are focusing on the short-run and not the long-run. They are going in and occupying these favelas, trying to cast out gangs and rebuild to give the appearance that Brazil's people live like people in more developed countries "should" live. The problem with this approach is that though they are arresting criminals and seizing drugs and weapons, they are not effectively dealing with the problem. Issues of violence and insecurity go much deeper than the government is acknowledging. The most effective way to deal with violence and crime is through education. The Brazilian government should be focusing on funneling money into the education system and youth outreach programs, to try to prevent children and young adults from getting involved in the drug world in the first place. Obviously this method would take far longer than the government has before visitors start arriving for the Olympics and the World Cup. But their short-term solutions are problematic as well. The Brazilian government is going in to these favelas and arresting criminals and then attempting to reconstruct the areas, either building hotels or higher income housing. This means previous residents must either relocate or are left homeless. The housing that is being reconstructed is far too expensive for these people to continue living there, so ultimately they are not fixing any problem except aesthetic ones. There is still the same amount of poor people, they are just being displaced from their homes, hidden from the tourists expected to begin pouring into the country next year.
ReplyDeleteAnother attempt by the Brazilian government to control drug trafficking has been to insert "pacifying" units, which were intended to deter illegal activity, but unfortunately many of these police officers were corrupt and became involved in the drug trade. These short-term attempts have proven mostly ineffective in helping or changing the circumstances. Hiding the favelas and the poor population is only masking the deep rooted problem of poverty and inequality in Brazil. While it might serve to impress tourists, it will not, in the long-run, help Brazil. The government needs to start looking into more long-term solutions if they hope to ever eliminate their social problems. And they are problems that need to be dealt with. Brazil is an up and coming developing country, but they will not receive the recognition they deserve if the country continues to be riddled with corruption, crime and inequality.
So to answer the question "What approach should the government of Rio de Janeiro take to limit crime and insecurity in the short-run?", my answer is there is no short-term solution. Problems such as these require long-term goals and implementation. Crime and insecurity are not things you clean up overnight. If they were, don't you think the Brazilian government would have dealt with them by now? Focusing on the short-term is holding them back from exploring options that actually might be effective, even if they take a bit longer to produce results.
http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/favela-residents-face-eviction-world-cup-and-olympics-prep
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/world/july-dec11/rio_11-14.html
I do strongly agree with Emilee on the fact that the city of Rio De Janeiro should focus on policy that aims for long term stability, but this does not mean short-term plans cannot be implemented. Emilee is right in regards to utilizing education as a tool for long term stability, but I think the arrival of the World Cup and the Olympics provide some short-term solutions for stability. The amount of unskilled labor required to host these two sporting events provides an opportunity for the people of the ghettos to work instead of being involved in criminal activity. I believe that it is a failure by the City Rio De Janeiro to make short term attempts to mask and hide the shanty towns by putting up wall. I feel this is almost an attempt to not recognized these people as citizens Rio. The Money used to build up these walls could be better utilized by providing those within the walls economic and educational opportunities.
DeleteShould Western governments aim to shape the practices of Latin American governments with respect to issues like labor rights, the environment, and the treatment of minority groups? I answer this question with a resounding "Yes," though there are a number of qualifications which I am compelled to address.
ReplyDeleteLet us begin with the environment. Western governments have a significant interest in protecting the environment in the countries of Latin America. This is the case, most notably, for two reasons: First, the negative effects experienced as a result of environmental degradation is never localized, and can have profound implications for humans across the globe (for example, destruction of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil effectively reduces species diversity, spreads disease, reduces the number of oxygen-producing trees, etc.). Second, the environment in Latin American countries is responsible for producing a great number of primary goods - sugar, coffee, and rubber, to name a few - upon which the Western nations depend for their consumption. In terms of policy, the best approach might start simply with the transfer of intellectual capital - such as sending teams to teach more eco-friendly and sustainable agricultural methods - an approach that has in practice, as one author put it, "unambiguously paid off for Brazil" ("Brazilian Democracy Takes a New Turn: Or Does It?").
Next, let us consider labor and minority rights. I do not consider such rights to be "American rights" or "European rights," but rather universal HUMAN rights. I firmly believe that governments of the "first world" nations have an obligation to help ensure that such crucial protections enjoyed by their own citizens are extended to those in the developing nations of the world - and considering the proximity of Latin American to the United States, the need for us (as Americans) to purse such changes in that region is particularly pressing. The problem in doing so, however, is the fundamental clash that occurs between ethics and economics. While it makes perfect sense, from an ethical standpoint, for the developed nations to push for these protections, it is precisely the poor working conditions (low wages, weak unions, child labor, etc.), subjugation of minority groups (which are also typically the poorest groups - hence the individuals being exploited in exchange for meager wages), and lax environmental regulations that encourages foreign businesses to establish factories in these countries - as it is much cheaper than doing so in their own countries where labor/human/environmental protections make production more expensive. This reality creates an unfortunate dilemma. Increasing rights in these countries will decrease incentives for foreign companies to invest/create manufacturing establishments, thus leading to a significant reduction in jobs for the very workers who need the income the most. While this may be a most unfortunate byproduct, it should not deter Western nations, as this is but a necessary (though painful) short-term step towards what will ultimately be a much more significant long-term improvement. Here, in terms of policy, the West should take more measures similar to those taken by the EU, wherein trade agreements were established with Central American countries contingent upon those countries agreeing to improve conditions for workers (see the BBC article - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21608732). At the same time, however, these agreements must provide for some form of oversight to ensure true compliance with their provisions.
For such policies to succeed, countries of the West must balance the goals of the initiatives with the interests of their domestic industries. To do so, they must push for rights in the countries of Latin America, while at the same time making sure to offset costs and create incentives for their businesses to invest locally (whether it is through tax breaks, subsidies, or some other form). Throughout this process, they must remain fully aware that all policies will have both benefits and drawbacks, and be mindful of the unintended consequences that they may cause both at home and abroad.
DeleteLooking back, my policy suggestions may seem to be a bit soft, and there are those who might fear that they would thus be ineffective in the real world. This may well be true, but I believe it is valuable to start with the least intrusive approach and give the countries of Latin America the opportunity to make positive changes with only a bit of gentle encouragement. That said, if the Carrots don't work, at least we've still got Sticks.
Sam Holz
ReplyDeleteBlog Post #2
I would really like to believe that the recent detention of Elba Esther Gordillo is an effort to crack down on corruption and special interests. I am sure a lot of Mexican citizens would like to believe this as well. There are certainly signs from this situation that point to the fact that real change is about to come about in Mexico, at least in terms of educational reform. This would be a huge step forward for Mexico, because this type of educational reform is desperately needed. Mexico’s education system is presently ranked the very worst out of all of the OECD countries, and this is more due to corruption and money mismanagement than a lack of funding (Grant, 2013). There have been noted cases of teachers receiving wages at schools that no longer exist, teachers selling their jobs for a price, and teachers that have nothing more than a high school diploma (Grant, 2013). President Enrique Pena Nieto’s reforms are proposing regular evaluations of teachers in the forthcoming years, something that previous administrations’ were hesitant to support. To me, these assessments seem like a positive step towards targeting some of this corruption and these unqualified educators. Rather than Pena trying to turn Ms. Gordillo, whose support was vital to previous Presidents’ campaign victories, into an ally, he has ostracized her. Pena has made Gordillo into a symbol of the corruption and questionable practices that have been part of Mexico’s educational system for far too long now. So, on the surface, it certainly appears as if Pena is taking positive steps towards eliminating these corrupt practices that are failing Mexico’s students.
However, as I did more research on this topic and re-read more carefully the articles assigned to us from class, I began to question Pena Nieto’s true motives for targeting Gordillo. According to former foreign minister Jorge Castaneda, “Pena Nieto chose Gordillo first, I think because of her emblematic nature, and because its politically convenient.” One might ask, “Why is it politically convenient?” Well, Enrique Pena Nieto and his Institutional Revolutionary party lost its power in the year 2000. At this time, Gordillo quickly became a close friend and advocate of Vicente Fox of PAN, or the National Action party. She was also able to establish her own independent political power base with the formation of the New Alliance party, which played a large role in helping Felipe Calderon, also a PAN member, with a victory in the 2006 presidential elections (Tuckman, 2013). When Gordillo came to the realization before the 2012 elections that the PRI would most likely receive the most votes, her began negotiations with the PRI but the alliance collapsed when individuals realized Gordillo’s days were probably numbered (Tuckman, 2013).
So, after further analysis, it appears to me as if the targeting of Gordillo and the new educational reform may be the result of timing and convenience than anything else. It seems to me that Pena Nieto was tired of Gordillo having so much control and influence over both the education system and electoral results. This combined with the fact that Gordillo is getting old and only tried to show support for the PRI because when it appeared they would regain power all contributed to Nieto going after Gordillo. Perhaps if for some reason Gordillo had shown allegiance to the PRI when they had lost power in 2000, we might be singing a different tune. I truly hope that Pena Nieto is carrying out these reforms for the right reasons and that they are sincere, I think it would be foolish to say that timing and political reasons did not play a part in the decision to imprison Ms. Gordillo.
Sources:
Articles from class
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/27/elba-esther-gordillo-mexico-union-embezzlement
I agree with Sam. This situation is all very convinient for Nieto and Gordillo is the only person being pursued. I think that before it can be decided whether or not Nieto's intentions are well-meaning we need to wait and see whether he goes after other high profile corrupt persons. If he does, then I think that thhis will show that he is not just getting back at a political enemy. If he does not go after any other high profile corruption, then I believe that this shows that he was using the corruption of Gordillo to put her out of power because she could be political opposition. The fact that this case fits so well with the recent education reforms could be a sign that Nieto pushed these reforms through in order to get Gordillo out of the way for political reasons. Like I said earlier though, it is hard to know what Nieto's motivations are at this moment and I think if we wait and see if he goes after any other high profile corruption, then we will know his true motivations.
DeleteI do agree with Sam in that Nieto's decision to target Gordillo is fueled by largely personal motives. However, if education is to be reformed, something we can all agree is necessary, Gordillo had to be purged of her position within the teacher's union. Anna is correct in questioning Nieto's motives. If he is serious in his intention of reducing corruption we should observe additional policies aimed at all levels of education. The enforcement of minimum standards such as the completion of a third tier degree or teacher's certification would improve the country's education ranking. We should also observe ranking members of the teacher's union become implicated with corruption charges. Gordillo is not the only corrupt individual of the operation.
DeleteFirst off I applaud the Brazilian government for taking back control of these favelas from drug lords and gangs. If Brazil is to make that leap into the top tier of countries around the world and be the leader of South America then the favelas are an issue that need to be addressed. Obviously dealing with them is going to be a long process and success will not be instantaneous. But if they can pacify the favelas it will go a long way for their global image to other states. As far as critics saying that this so far has only benefitted the wealthy neighborhoods I believe that this actually makes sense. It is in the better interest of the government to start with areas that are near higher income areas in order to protect those assets.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the corruption in of Elba Esther Gordillo is concerned I'm not very surprised. Corruption has been a massive problem for years and it's probably safe to assume the majority of the rich people in Mexico are involved in corruption at some sort of level. I applaud the newly elected President for trying to meet this problem head on, however I have my doubts that any real progress will be made under him because of how big of an issue this has become. Where any of the charges against Gordillo will actually stick due to lack of evidence or even her buying people off remains to be seen.
Finally I think that the trade agreement in Guatemala is a step in the right direction. It would greatly aid the Guatemalan economy and would provide health care and higher wages to thousands of people. While it can not benefit everyone the reality of the situation is that there isn't a trade agreement that can. Tough decisions have to be made and if a large group of people are helped by this trade agreement then it should be seen as a positive thing.
Why is it safe to assume that wealthy people in Mexico are corrupt?
Delete
ReplyDeleteAs stated previously, the problem with the government of Rio de Janeiro is that their actions are only a temporary fix to a long-term problem. These actions are only a short-term fix and are not sustainable for the long term. This issue is one that should raise much concern, not only for the people of Brazil, but also for the countries around the world that will be viewing these international events. Honestly, the whole situation seems a bit backwards, it is very much apparent that the motives behind the temporary clean up of impoverished areas of Rio de Janeiro is only for the upcoming events and not for the people of the Favelas. This becomes clear with the clean up of certain Favelas and not others. With that being said, it worries me that the countries priorities are not in the people, but rather in producing a false image for the rest of the world to see. The same problems and issues were expressed by South Africa when they hosted the World Cup; as they moved their poor out of cities to portray the image of success. As a government official of South Africa stated prior to hosting the World Cup “You have to clean your house before you have guests. There is nothing wrong with that." I find this response very much parallel with the actions of Brazil. I understand that hosting the World Cup is a great accomplishment for a country, in hopes of bringing foreign investment and tourism to your country. However, is it really worth it to be spending millions of dollars on stadiums and infrastructure, when you have people that don’t even have running water? The answer is not one that should be temporary, but rather one that fixes the problem. The solution is not throwing millions of dollars at the problem, such as increased welfare programs that will further increase dependency on the government, but rather by educating the lower class of Brazil it could give the future generations a path out of the gangs and poverty. Yes, there are certain government programs in place that encourage families to send their children to school, however is the education of those children equal to that of the children not living in the Favelas? The video shown in class, along with this youtube video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l-aJVjnw44, shows that although the government has control over the Favelas and have stopped much of the drug related crime, the drug trade is still taking place in the shadows. This demonstrates that the problem has not been fixed, but rather a band-aid has been placed over it. Having had the opportunity to travel to South Africa post World Cup and see million dollar stadiums sit empty, while the poor still lack education, proper nutrition, and shelter makes me scared to think of the future for Brazil, when the sporting events have come and gone.
Turning our attention to the imprisonment of Gordillo raises many red flags when looking at the motivation behind this case. I want to believe that the motivation behind this case is to end corruption. However, one cannot help but to question the motivation behind President Pena wanting to remove a women of such power, that could inhibit reforms he wishes to make. Whatever the reason, I feel that this is a step in the right direction (If Gordillo is actually proven guilty). “This is a message to all the other corrupt leaders,” said a retired teacher from Mexico. This is exactly the message the president wants to send, lets hope that Pena follows through to make the educational reforms that he talks of that will hopefully modernize the educational sector in Mexico.
http://espnfc.com/world-cup/story/_/id/781592/ce/uk/&cc=5901?ver=us
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/head-mexicos-powerful-teachers-union-jailed
Elba Esther Gordillo, La Maestra, is the President of the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE) in Mexico. As published on SNTE website, this is a 70 years old union with 1.7 million members, which makes it the largest worker’s union in Mexico and consequently makes Ms Gordillo a powerful national leader. Gordillo has recently been taken into custody due to corruption charges, for presumably taking union’s funds, $159 million, for her personal spending, and according to Mexican newspaper (eluniversal.com.mx), money laundering and organized crime.
ReplyDeleteMs. Gordillo has been leading SNTE for 23 years and according to BBC and The Economist articles she has never hide her life style and tastes. Her arrest seems to respond to several factors: first, the recently elected president of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, announced in his inaugural speech that among his first 13 actions as president was the Reform in Education (adnpolitico.com). Ms Gordillo was directly opposing any reform that included teachers’ assessment. Second, Peña Nieto also proposed a National Commission against Corruption (Comisión Nacional Anticorrupción), Ms Gordillo, as a public figure with questionable life style, represents the perfect example of what the new government needs to battle. And third, Mexico’s new President needs to show his Nation, he is serious about the promises he gave during his presidential campaign, so by arresting on charges of embezzlement a high profile political figure Peña Nieto is giving a clear signal of how far he is willing to go.
A recent survey done by El Universal, Mexico’s leading newspaper (eluniversal.com.mx), shows that 88% of Mexicans agree with Ms Gordillo’s arrest; 72% believed she was obstructing educations reforms; 97% believe other union leaders should be investigated; and 37% improve their opinion on Enrique Peña Nieto. Therefore, it seems this has been a good and effective strategy for the new administration.
We have been reading a great deal on corruption, a scourge that affects all countries, not just Latin America, in different levels. In some countries it is more institutionalized such as lobbying, in others shown as a fix percentage on contracts, and others as simple as a mordida. Nevertheless, what I think is more important in the case of Ms Gordillo is the fact that what was being undermined was the education of many children. As published in the website for Sistema Educativo de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos (Mexico’s Secretary of Education) there are close to 35 million of students from K-12 in Mexico. 13 % are in private schools that provide a higher academic level to those who can afford it. However, 87% are part of the public schools system working directly with teachers belonging to the SNTE Union, who are not required academic achievements and have never been evaluated. The button line is that the large majority of children in Mexico had been denied the possibility of a good education consequently their future is at stake and so is the future of Mexico. Maybe this partially explains Mexico’s socio-economic developments (emigration).
Elba Gordillo epitomizes what is wrong with Mexico in my opinion. Here you have the union leader of teachers, being paid a teachers salary, affording exclusive mansions in San Diego, and multi-million dollar wardrobe charges. I applaude the new president for attempting to end some of the apparent rampant corruption occurring in Mexico. To have a union leader be as powerful as she is, and have the education system be as bad as it is, something has to do be done to change it. For goodness sakes, there are teachers still getting paid who are deceased, or teachers who are getting paid to work at schools that no longer exist. The quality of teachers needs to increase to match the power of the teachers union.
ReplyDeleteSeeing the correlation with Elba 'La Maestra' and the corruption we have recently talked about in Brazilian politics (those who were charged for corruption and still hold positions in office) exhibits this prominent problem within Latin America. Personally, new laws and codes need to be implemented in order for other countries to take them seriously, and for their economies to receive the full economic growth potential they have instead of millions of dollars going to the hands of a few select people.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/08/maduro-venezuela-president_n_2840578.html
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the first discussion question, I believe it would be over-simplifying the situation to suggest that the arrest of Elba Esther Gordillo is either politically motivated or an attempt to cleanse a corrupt political system. The current accusations levied against Gordillo provide different opportunities for various groups. I believe that as far as President Enrique Pena Nieto’s administration is concerned the arrest of Gordillo presents an opportunity to remove a powerful figure from impeding in the administration’s efforts to reform the current education system in Mexico. It seems, according to the BBC article, that the Gordillo’s political influence as the head of the teachers union has played a significant role tying down the quality of the Mexican education system to the bottom of the global rankings. On the contrary, some other interest groups might seize this as opportunity to exemplify the corrupt nature of public figures (especially politicians), and for the average citizen, the arrest of Gordillo may hint at potential future progress in regards to combating corruption. Seeing such a powerful political figure being held accountable for her immoral actions may provide some hope that the country of Mexico is on its way to legacy of more honorable public servants, and less corrupt politicians.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the second discussion question, I believe that Rio de Janeiro needs to take couple of steps to limit crime and instability in the short-run. I think that the idea of putting more authority figures like police officers can increase stability in shanty towns. Obviously, the presence of police officers is a strong deterrent of criminal activity, but I do not believe this to necessarily be a practical sustainable manner to maintain stability. High crime rates in a given society tend to be a symptom of a lack of economic opportunity and Rio de Janeiro is no exception. I think a concentrated effort on providing economic opportunities or even educational opportunities would serve the city well in reducing the crime rates. It is no secret that the exceptionally high crime rates in Rio de Janeiro are strongly bolstered by the criminal activity in favelas or shanty towns. I believe now is the city’s opportune time to put a dent in the crime rate. In the approaching few years, Rio de Janeiro will be hosting the FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. The hosting of both these events will inherently require billions of dollars in human capital and, combined with the infrastructural improvements and additional venues needed in order to host these massive global events, require a tremendous amount of unskilled labor. These unskilled jobs may be the economic opportunity for those who dwell in these favelas. I think the World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics provide the city of Rio de Janeiro the opportunity to display itself as a physically beautiful and economically attractive city, but these events also could be used as step for economic progress for the people of the favelas. I think that the negative correlation between crime rate and economic opportunity will be self-evident in Rio if the government utilizes the upcoming global sporting events as an economic opportunity for the poor.
I think there are some very interesting issues going on in Brazil right now. One being government efforts to clean up favelas in Rio de Janeiro and the other being President Rousseff's current welfare programs aimed at completely ending poverty in Brazil. While both of these policies seem to have some sort of positive intention for the good of Brazil, are they being executed in the best possible manner so that they ultimately succeed?
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the government's attempt to clean up the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, I don't doubt that there are underlying incentives as far as Brazil's image goes but in my opinion, that's not what is most important in this case. Of course a country is going to want to present itself well when important figures from all over the world are going to be staying in your home but what is going to be important is where Brazil's government takes this policy once the World Cup and Olympics are over. If Brazil is in fact serious about improving conditions in the favelas then we should be hearing about this positive change long after the World Cup and Olympics take place.
As for President Rousseff's current welfare programs (Bolsa Familia and Brasil Sem Miséria), I truly believe that these are important first steps in eliminating poverty in Brazil and I say this because contrary to some belief that these programs are allowing the poor to rely on government money, as stated in The Economist article "Social Spending in Brazil: The End of Poverty?" these programs are 1) Not providing enough money for poor citizens to stop working, 2) Part of the budget goes on job training and microfinance, and 3) In rural areas, farmers are learning new and improved farming methods. Now I can't promise these two programs will for sure end poverty in Brazil or if poverty can even be ended but I do think that these are very import steps for improving the conditions of the poor and diminishing the inequality gap that has long defined Brazilian society.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2013/02/social-spending-brazil
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21648501
With respect to the recent detention of "la maestra", I personally believe and hope that the move to detain her was primarily to mitigate against corruption. Not only is it valuable to prevent someone in her position from stealing such massive sums of money from a program like education but her arrest, under orders of Nieto, sends a message across the country and hopefully the region that corruption is intolerable and detrimental to growth. It would be foolish to ignore the possibility that the true goal was to eliminate a potential political enemy, as she has shown her ability to change loyalties and effect elections. Despite the possibility of a misguided arrest,it would be unacceptable to let someone of her statue exploit the educational system, one that many people already believe is failing. Nik lima, in an earlier comment, acknowledged the regional impact something like could have, and I agree completely with what he is saying. The fact that politicians, mainly in Brazil, are identified as corrupt and then continue to hold there position and be elected to others is also unacceptable. I do not know much about the new law forbidding individuals who have been convicted of corruption from participating in politics for a set amount of time, but from what I do understand it seems that the law has so far been far from effective and therefore it seems vital that the law be reformed or enforced sufficiently.
ReplyDeleteBrazil's priorities are skewed as they have begun tacking the crime and favela problem only just before the Olympics and the World Cup. One concern with these motives is that, shortly after the events, the favelas will return to their previous states.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the newfound safety due to "pacification" is having a long-term impact on property prices and value in the favelas. If prices continue to rise as the land becomes more desirable to foreigners and rich Brazilians, the original inhabitants of the favelas will not be able to stay and the drug lords will not be able to return.
News reports focus only on the success of "pacification," making the process seem easy and peaceful. For example, the BBC article exemplifies "pacification" efforts in which Brazilian flags were raised only three hours after invading the favelas, disregarding the unrest that police presence can cause. Before the favelas were successfully "pacified," violent and corrupt police forces such as BOPE were sent in, killing and torturing not only drug lords, but also, uneducated, young dealers who got caught up in the drug game merely because they wanted to provide for their families, not to mention the innocent civilians that were caught in the crossfire.
Another thing that earlier posts have addressed is the idea that "pacifying" the favelas will give Rio the "clean" image it needs before the Olympics and the World Cup. However, I find it hard to see how sticking some police with machine guns at the bottom of every favela gives Rio a "clean" image at all. While drugs have less of a presence in the favelas, at least in Zona Sul where all of the tourists will be staying, little has been done to improve the infrastructure and physical safety of the favelas. I think many favela inhabitants would gladly take back the drug dealers if it meant that the money spent on police forces would instead be put towards construction and safe living conditions.
Education is of course a first step in improving society overall and stopping crime before it reaches extreme levels. However, in my experience in the favelas, I felt as though the educational programs and schools were there, the problem was that the kids were not going. The favela children, often fatherless and with working mothers, had freedom that would shock overbearing, American parents. Often times, it is up to the children to decide whether to go to class or not and, of course, most children would rather spend the day running around in the streets than in a classroom.
People also mentioned that the Olympics may be beneficial because of the amount of jobs it will provide to unskilled laborers. One problem I see with this is that the jobs, most of which are in the tourism industry, will require the labor to have at least some skill with the English. Public schools in Brazil do not teach English and a huge majority of favela inhabitants can't say anything beyond, "welcome to Brazil." So, while the Olympics will open up a lot of job opportunities, will these jobs really go to the poorest Brazilians?
Finally, as Brett pointed out, the "pacification" is only taking place in the favelas close to the Zona Sul, the rich, beachfront area that tourists will be visiting. This is unfair to the Brazilians living in the majority of Rio, the far more dangerous and less "glamorous" Zona Norte. Police forces have not eliminated crime, they have just pushed it out into areas that are already dangerous and that are not undergoing any form of "pacification." Furthermore, the crime from the favelas may just be spread out and will even become more apparent in the rich communities. After all, tourists flocking in large numbers for the games bring a huge amount of money for criminals to capitalize on.
I agree with a lot of what you said. I believe this "pacifying" is honestly just a bunch of BS. What is it actually accomplishing? It is not stopping the drug trade because nothing ever will and also it is not improving living conditions for the residents of the favelas. If all they are doing is having armed policemen walk around with big guns and raising the flag then the government just appears to be flexing their muscles. Maybe a few drug lords bailed on their favela, but we all know their drug business is not finished. The Brazilian government should not be proud of these actions until the favelas become more than a favela with additions of infrastructure and public services. Congratulations for having the police present in places they previously weren't, but that is an extremely small step to tackling the actual problem they claim to desire to fix. I feel like this is just an action based on what others think of Brazil and that the Brazilian government wants to look like they are helping.
DeleteI hope that the increased police presence in the favelas doesn't result in a significant growth of the rates of incarceration.
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