In the third lecture of the three part McDougall Lecture Series, "Global Perspectives," Fernando Patron Sanchez spoke about the current progress of democracy in Latin America. Sanchez, the director of the Department of Public Management, Division of Law, Politics and Government at the University of Guanajuato in Mexico, presented his lecture Monday at 3:30 p.m. in room 154 of the West Virginia University College of Law, with approximately 50 people in attendance. The series held speeches from distinguished guest speakers from around the globe. Sanchez represented Morgantown’s sister city, Guanajuato, Mexico. In his lecture, Patron addressed the issue of the reform processes needed to improve and consolidate democracy in Mexico and Latin America. Over the last 20 years, most Latin American countries have seen a gradual progression toward the development of democracy, he said. "Relatively free, fair and impartial elections have been held across Latin America," Sanchez said. Democracy is in the process of establishing itself as the overwhelmingly dominant political system on the subcontinent, he said. His lecture provided a viewpoint on the reform processes necessary to help stabilize and maintain democracy in Latin America. "Elites still have a great deal of responsibility to spread democracy in Latin America," Sanchez said. "If a bottom-up approach does not occur, society may lose its power to the elites." Sanchez’s residence in Mexico has had some influence in his lecture, he said, but his theories "rely on writing, previews, theories and the mainstream of the political field." Sanchez’s educational background include: a doctorate in government studies at the University of Essex in England, a master’s degree in public administration from the Centro de Investigacion y Docencia Economicas (CIDE) in Mexico, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Azcapotzalco in Mexico.
‘Global Perspectives’ series addresses issues of democracy in Latin America
Published: Monday, October 12, 2009
Updated: Monday, October 12, 2009 23:10
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