Camila Vergara

Tony Wood, a modern political historian, and Camila Vergara, a critical legal theorist, delve into Latin America's political landscape. They explore the collapse of left-wing governments from the Pink Tide and the emergence of right-wing leaders like Milei and Bukele. Their discussion reveals how neoliberal roots shaped these shifts, the impact of a commodity boom on redistribution, and the rise of a reactionary right exploiting media and voter discontent. They also touch on state violence and the potential for revolutionary change amidst current turmoil.

Chilean political philosopher Camila Vergara discusses plebeian constitutionalism, arguing for citizen assemblies to counter elite abuse. The podcast explores oligarchic foundations of the US Constitution, challenges liberalism's flaws, and advocates for plebeian institutions to empower the common people.

Camila Vergara, a political theorist and author, joins Clara Mattei to unravel the concept of systemic corruption—how our legal frameworks uphold oligarchic power. They discuss how the U.S. constitution was crafted to protect the wealthy, making inequality a feature, not a flaw. Elections, they argue, deepen this divide instead of remedying it, while revealing that real democracy often resembles an oligarchy. They also highlight past popular movements that challenged these structures and propose practical local projects for genuine change.

Camila Vergara, a political theorist and author, joins economist Clara Mattei to investigate why democracy falters against oligarchy. They discuss systemic corruption and its ties to militarism, revealing how the elite gain from war and influence. The conversation emphasizes grassroots strategies to reclaim power, highlighting innovative local projects like energy co-ops and community councils in Chile. Understand how ordinary people can dismantle corrupt systems and build a democratic future from the ground up.

Camila Vergara, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University and author of "Systemic Corruption," dives into the deep roots of political corruption. She highlights how viewing corruption merely as individual moral failing obscures systemic decay. Drawing on Ancient Greek insights, she explains that understanding the structural causes of corruption is vital for genuine reform. Camila advocates for regular constituent processes to renew democracies, using Chile's recent constitutional reforms as a compelling case study of popular power in action.