Christian Base Communities and the Building of Democracy

Brazil and Chile

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2590963
AutoresJames C Cavendish (University of Notre Dame, autor de correspondencia)
Año1994
Volumen55
Número2
Páginas179
Fecha de publicación1994-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSociology of Religion (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1069-4404 • E-ISSN: 1759-8818
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/3711856
OpenAlexW1991060720
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas13
Referencias citadas10

Among the most significant phenomena in recent South American history are the transitions from authoritarian rule to democracy in Brazil (1985), Argentina (1982–1983), Uruguay (1985), Bolivia (1982), and Chile (1990). The intent of this article is to analyze the influence of Christian base communities (or CEBs, from the Spanish comunidades eclesiales de base) on the two stages of democratic transition in Brazil and Chile: (1) the transition in political regimes and (2) the consolidation of democracy. This article begins by discussing basic concepts employed by analysts of democratic transitions, and then reviews the literature that has related to religion to democracy. Drawing upon the literature concerned with the role of CEBs in democratic transition and consolidation, I then summarize how CEBs — both as organizations and as bearers of political values — have fostered the development of democracy. The conclusions, based on my preliminary observation of CEB activity in Chile and on recent empirical studies, suggest that while base communities continue to encourage democratic values and practices, their future role in this area is likely to diminish

Authoritarianism · Democracy · Democratic consolidation · Democratization · Development economics · Economics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Law · Political theory and Gramsci · Religion and Society in Latin America · Religion and Society Interactions