Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T23:32:46.345Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Panama: The Difficult Transition Towards Democracy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

William L. Furlong
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

It should come as no surprise that Panama is experiencing difficult times in the attempt to recast its political system, long under military control (1968-1989), into a functioning democracy. The military came to power in 1968 by ousting President Arnulfo Arias from his elected office — and not for the first time: they had also deposed him on two previous occasions, in 1941 and again in 1951. Following the 1968 coup, the military regime allowed no more presidential elections until the 1980s when, presumably, it felt its position sufficiently secure. However, those elections were neither honest, open, nor democratic. In May 1984, when Arnulfo Arias won the election, he was — again — deprived of the presidency when the military altered the results of the vote. When the next presidential elections were held, in 1989, General Manuel Antonio Noriega once more cancelled the results after his efforts to falsify the voting count failed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs , Volume 35 , Issue 3: Special Issue: The Future of Panama and the Canal , Fall 1993 , pp. 19 - 64
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alianza Democrática de Oposición-Civilista (ADO-C) (1989) Government Election of the Republic of Panama (Briefing Book, October). Panama City, Panama: ADO-C.Google Scholar
Ardito Barletta, N. (1993) Author interview with former president of Panama and leader of PDC, Panama City (Panama), 19 February.Google Scholar
Ardito Barletta, N. (1991) Author interview with Vice-President of Panama and leader of the PDC, Panama City (Panama).Google Scholar
Arteaga, L. Jr. (1992) “¿;Reformas o Constituyente?” La Prensa (7 February): 28-A.Google Scholar
Asvat, E. (1993) Author interview with PDC member and former head of the police, Panama City (Panama), 18 February.Google Scholar
Bamrud, J. (1992) “Panama's Economy Remains Sluggish.” Times of the Americas (February): B-3.Google Scholar
Bernal, V.M.A. (1992) ¿Reformas o Constituyente? Panama City, Panama: Imprenta Ziur.Google Scholar
Bernal, V.M.A. (1991) Author interview with Professor of Law, Universidad de Panama, Panama City (Panama)Google Scholar
Bosquez de Leon, E. (1990) “¿Invasion Ilegal? ¿Gobierno Legitimo?” pp. 7–17 in Bosquez de León, E., Gandásegui, M., and Navas, L. (eds.) Invasión, Militarismo, y Democracia. Panama City, Panama: Instituto de Estudios Nacionales, Universidad de Panama.Google Scholar
Cabal, T. (1992) “Como en Venezuela, la corrupción amenaza la democracia Panamena.” El Panama-América (18 febrero): 6-A.Google Scholar
Cabal, T. (1991) “Panama no es un país, es un negocio.” El Panama-América (28 Julio): 4-A.Google Scholar
Castro, N. (1987) Objetos Estratégicos de Estados Unidos en Panama. San José, Costa Rica: Comité de Solidaridad con el Pueblo de Panama.Google Scholar
Christian, S. (1992) “Panama Grows, Reaching Skyward, Yet down below Much Pain Remains.” New York Times International (29 April): A-6.Google Scholar
Comité de Apoyo a los Observadores Internacionales (1989) Testimonio de un Proceso Electoral (Mora, Jairo,ed.). Panama City, Panama: Comité de Apoyo a los Observadores Internacionales.Google Scholar
Comisión Ad-Hoc sobre los Bienes Revertidos y la Futura Administración del Canal de Panama (1991) Informe al Presidente Guillermo Endara Galimany. Panama City, Panama: Impredisa.Google Scholar
Consultoria Interdisciplinaria en Desarrollo, S.A. (CID) (1993) Opinión Publica No. 8 (marzo). Panama City, Panama: CID.Google Scholar
Consultoria Interdisciplinaria en Desarrollo, S.A. (CID) (1992a) Opinión Pública No. 7 (octubre).Google Scholar
Consultoria Interdisciplinaria en Desarrollo, S.A. (CID) (1992b) Opinión Pública No. 6 (mayo).Google Scholar
Consultoria Interdisciplinaria en Desarrollo, S.A. (CID) (1991a) Opinión Pública No. 5 (agosto).Google Scholar
Consultoria Interdisciplinaria en Desarrollo, S.A. (CID) (1991b) Opinión Publica No. 4 (marzo).Google Scholar
Consultoria Interdisciplinaria en Desarrollo, S.A. (CID) (1990) Opinión Pública No. 3 (octubre).Google Scholar
De La Espriella, R. (1992) “Panama at the Crossroads.” North-South Magazine 1, 4 (January-February): 28–31.Google Scholar
Dela Rosa, D. (1991) Author interview with Panamanian statesman, Panama City (Panama), 12 August.Google Scholar
Del Moral, O. (1992) Diagnóstico Crítico de la Democracia en Panam´a. Panama City, Panamá: Movimiento de Abogados Profesión y Ley.Google Scholar
Eisenmann, I. R. (1990) “Hope Restored.” Hemisphere 3,1 (Fall): 19–20.Google Scholar
Fishel, J. (1992) The Fog of Peace: Planning and Executing the Restoration of Panama. Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College.Google Scholar
Frente Nacional por el No a las Reformas (FRENO) (1993) Frente Nacional Pro Constituyente (newsletter, 4-9 May). Panama City, Panamá: FRENO.Google Scholar
Fukuyama, F. (1992) The End of History and the Last Man. New York, NY: Avon Publishers.Google Scholar
Gallardo, M.E. and Lopez, J. R. (1986) Centro América: La Crisis en Cifras. San Jose, Costa Rica: IICA/FLACSO (Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales).Google Scholar
(La) Estrella de Panamá (1993) “Declaration de Bambito.” (agosto): A-6.Google Scholar
Linz, J. (1990) “Transitions to Democracy.” The Washington Quarterly 13, 2 (Summer): 143–164.Google Scholar
Linz, J. (1978) Crisis, Breakdown, and Reequilibration (Vol. 1) of Linz, J. and Stepan, A. (eds) The Breakdown of Democratic Regimes. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Linz, J. and Stepan, A. (eds.) (1978) The Breakdown of Democratic Regimes (4 Vols.) Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.Google Scholar
Upset, S. (1960) Political Man. New York, NY: Doubleday and Co. Google Scholar
Upset, S. (1959) “Some Social Requisites of Democracy.” American Political Science Review 53: 69–105.Google Scholar
Millett, R. (1990) “The Aftermath of Intervention: Panama 1990.” Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs 32, 1 (Spring): 1–15.Google Scholar
Millett, R. (1989) “Government and Politics,” Chapter 4 in Meditz, Sandra and Hanratty, Dennis (eds.) Panama: A Country Study (4th ed.) Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
(El) Panamá-América (1993) “Resultados de la Novena Encuesta Nacional de Opinión Pública.” (23 August): 18/19-A.Google Scholar
(El) Panamá-América (1993b) (3 August): 2-A.Google Scholar
(El) Panamá-América (1992) “Huge Leadership Crisis in Panama.” (4 February):2-A.Google Scholar
(El) Panamá-América (1991) “Endara's Government Lacks Leadership.” (9 April):Google Scholar
Peeler, J. (1985) Latin American Democracies: Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.Google Scholar
de Perez, M. R. (1992) “¿Y que de nuestras esperanzas democráticas?” La Prensa (1 February): 11-A.Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1993a) “Elecciones '94: Primera Encuesta Electoral por Dichter and Neira” (special supplement). (26 August): 1-19.Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1993b) “Dichter and Neira poll” (4 May):Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1992) “The Government Continues to Paralyze the Country.” (19 February): 30-A.Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1991a) “¿Donde Están los Gobemantes?” (14 December): 22-A.Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1991b) “Where Are Our Government Leaders?” (25 September): 26-A.Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1991c) “Crisis of Governability.” (13 August): 19-A.Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1991d) “La Inestabilidad Política está frenando desarrollo Económico de Panamá.” (25 June): 15-A.Google Scholar
(La) Prensa (1991e) “Aumenta Corrupción en el Gobierno.” (24 June): 1-A.Google Scholar
Ropp, S. (1993) “Things Fall Apart: Panama after Noriega.” Current History 9, 572 (March): 102–105.Google Scholar
Ropp, S. (1982) Panamanian Politics: From Guarded Nation to National Guard. New York, NY: Praeger Publishing.Google Scholar
Scranton, M. (1992) “Panama's Democratic Transition.” Midsouth Journal of Political Science 13 (Spring): 107–128.Google Scholar
Sullivan, M. (1993) “Panama-US Relations: Continuing Policy Concerns” (CRS Issue Brief 1B92088). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.Google Scholar
Sullivan, M. (1991) “Panama and the Future of the US Military Bases: An Examination of Panamanian Views” (CRS Report for Congress 91-784F, 1 November). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.Google Scholar
Thayer, B. (1993) Author interview with CNN reporter and law professor, Panama City (Panama), February.Google Scholar
US Agency for International Development (US-AID) (1991) “US Economic Assistance to Panama, Appropriated Funds, US Trade Benefits, Loan Guarantees and Other Programs” (press release, May). Panama City, Panama: US Embassy.Google Scholar
Villegas, R. (1993) Author interview with the head of the Electoral Tribunal of Costa Rica, in San José (Costa Rica), 24 February.Google Scholar
Zimbalist, A. and Weeks, J. (1991) Panama at the Crossroads: Economic Development and Political Change in the Twentieth Century. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.Google Scholar