Judicial Reform as Political Insurance: Argentina, Peru, and Mexico in the 1990s

Contents and Acknowledgments

Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction. Latin America and Judicial Reform: Why Would Politicians Enact Institutional Reforms That Appear to Limit Their Own Political Power? 1 Chapter One Explaining Latin America’s Recent Judicial Reforms 21 Chapter Two Judicial Reform in Argentina in the 1990s 39 Chapter Three Judicial Reform in Peru in the 1990s 63 Chapter Four Judicial Reform in Mexico in the 1990s 89 Chapter Five The Paradox of Latin America’s Judicial Reforms: Lessons Learned 111 Notes 119 Bibliography 139 Index 153 Acknowledgments I thank the many people who inspired, assisted, and supported me while I was working on this project. The first are my parents, Betty and Max, two people on whom I could always count. A big thank-you also goes to my brother, David, for believing in the value of my research, for editing my entire dissertation, and for numerous “David J. Finkel Travel Awards for Young Scholars” in support of my adventures on the research trail. I also say muchísimas gracias to Julie Manevitz and Robin McLaughlin for all their encouragement. I particularly thank my advisers at UCLA, Barbara Geddes and Mike Thies, as well as my dear friend Julie Taylor, for helping me to conceptualize my work. I owe thanks to many people and institutions in Argentina, Peru, and Mexico. In Argentina, these include Alberto Dalla Vía, Adrián Ventura, Carlos Vayafín, and Tulio Ortíz; the University of Buenos Aires Law School for hosting me while I conducted research; and Silvina Natalicchio and Diana Kapiszweski for archival research at La Nación headquarters . I thank Victor Cubas, Jose Ugaz, Carlos Montoya Anguerry, David Lovatón Palacios, and Esperanza Chavez (my “Peruvian grandmother”) in Peru, as well as the Institute for Legal Defense and La Católica Law School in Lima, both of which hosted me as a visiting scholar. I also thank Lucho Quequezana for incidentally helping me fall in love with Andean music in the course of my research. I particularly thank John Moody, a rich source for my general knowledge of Mexico, Pamela Starr, and José Ramón Cossío-Díaz, source for much of my specific knowledge of the Mexican judicial system. I also thank the Center for Economic Information and Teaching (CIDE) in Mexico City for hosting me for two summers as a visiting researcher. ix x Acknowledgments My research and writing time was funded by many sources, including UCLA’s Chancellor’s Dissertation Fellowship, a Charles F. Scott Fellowship , an International Fieldwork Fellowship from UCLA’s International Studies and Opportunities Program, a Ford Foundation Travel Grant, and a Summer Research Grant from UCLA’s Latin American Center . I am grateful for all of them. ...