Institute of Historical Research

Roberto Gargarella (Universidad Torcuato di Tella/Leverhulme Trust Visiting Professor, UCL Institute of the Americas)

In this paper, I provide an analytical framework in order to understand the development of Latin America's constitutional structure -and its limits. First, I want to present the main constitutional traditions that appeared in the region since the Independence, and then examine some of the difficulties generated by the dominant constitutional model. In particular, I want to suggest that the implementation of social rights has been undermined by the absence of substantial political reforms.

Latin American History