Date:
Location:
"The Criminalization of Corruption in Latin America: Causes and Consequences of Lava Jato"
Attend this event via Zoom (advance registration required)
Speakers:
Ezequiel González Ocantos, Associate Professor in the Qualitative Study of Comparative Political Institutions, Department of Politics& International Relations, University of Oxford.
Paula Muñoz, Professor, Departamento Académico de Ciencias Sociales y Políticas, Universidad del Pacifico en Perú.
Discussant:
Alisha Holland, Faculty Associate. Associate Professor, Department of Government, Harvard University.
Moderator:
Frances Hagopian, Faculty Associate. Jorge Paulo Lemann Senior Lecturer on Government, Department of Government, Harvard University.
Contact:
Paola Ibarra
pibarra@fas.harvard.edu
Remote Access Information:
To join by computer:
https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-A3OpVdDTDeoa5qHAkSpsA
Please note: This event requires registration in advance in order to receive the meeting link and password.
Abstract:
Operation Lava Jato started in Brazil as a money-laundering case. It quickly turned into a full-blown judicial anti-corruption crusade with far-reaching political implications across Latin America. The same companies at the heart of the Brazilian scandal offered kickbacks to public officials in at least 8 other countries. Critics see the prosecutorial zeal behind some of the national chapters of Lava Jato as yet another instance of “lawfare.” For others, however, it anticipates a new era of accountability and political regeneration. In this talk, we discuss our current book project, which asks two sets of questions. First, what explains why the investigation gained momentum and delivered results in some countries but not others? Our answer looks at the legacy of capacity-enhancing reforms in Latin America’s prosecution services as well as more immediate determinants of prosecutorial zeal. Second, we rely on focus groups and original surveys to understand the impact of Lava Jato on public opinion. What kind of emotions and attitudes towards corruption and politics do voters experience when exposed to these shocks? Does Lava Jato reinforce or curb political cynicism? Are all Lava Jato’s created equal, or does the way in which different investigations unfold shape emotional and attitudinal responses?
