Question 1

What is &#34;rule of law&#34; as conceived under liberal democracy?&#10;A) The way a country is governed under a state of emergency.&#10;B) Where every citizen is equal subject to laws..&#10;C) Where the judicial branch of government exercises more power than the legislative and executive branches.&#10;D) Where democracy is limited by legal codes and rules of conduct.

Accepted Answer

The "rule of law" in a liberal democracy means that every citizen is subject to the law equally, ensuring fairness and justice.

Question 2

What is &#34;lawfare&#34;?&#10;A) The practice of using charges of corruption to bring down political opponents&#10;B) A movement to spread the rule of law throughout Latin America&#10;C) A movement to make courts of law more open to the people&#10;D) A US program to help Latin American governments eliminate judicial corruption

Accepted Answer

Lawfare refers to the strategy of using legal systems and mechanisms to achieve a strategic advantage, often against political opponents, by discrediting them or tying them up in legal challenges. This can involve filing lawsuits, legal complaints, or charges of corruption to undermine or delegitimize an opponent or to hinder their political objectives.

Question 3

In Latin America, violence against LGBTQ+ people:&#10;A) Has risen as they have become more visible.&#10;B) Is low, but only because LGBTQ+ people try to maintain a low profile&#10;C) Has diminished in countries where Pink Tide presidents have won olffice&#10;D) Is low because families tend to accept them more than in other parts of the world

Accepted Answer

Violence against LGBTQ+ people in Latin America has increased as they have become more visible. This visibility, while empowering the community and fostering a sense of identity and solidarity, has also made them more susceptible to targeted violence in a region where conservative and traditional views on gender and sexuality can still predominate.

Question 4

Femicide in Latin America refers to...&#10;A) Killings of men by women due to increased incidents of domestic violence&#10;B) Women have become more involved in violent crime&#10;C) Gender motivated homicides against women&#10;D) Women in the countryside executed for infidelity

Accepted Answer

Femicide in Latin America specifically refers to gender-motivated homicides against women, often highlighting systemic issues of violence against women in the region.

Question 5

What are mensalao and lavo jato?&#10;A) Mixtures of hip hop and samba among Afro-descendents.&#10;B) Two regions of the Amazonian rainforest that have been devastated by fire.&#10;C) Corruption scandals in Brazil&#10;D) Social media conspiracy websites

Accepted Answer

Mensalão and Lava Jato are two major corruption scandals in Brazil. The Mensalão scandal was uncovered in 2005 and involved a large vote-buying scheme, while the Lava Jato (Car Wash) operation, launched in 2014, uncovered widespread corruption involving state-controlled oil company Petrobras, among other entities.

Question 6

What was the Obredecht scandal?&#10;A) The discovery of World War II Nazi survivors in Brazil and Argentina&#10;B) A far-reaching corruption scandal involving payoffs by a Brazilian construction company to high-level politicians in many countries&#10;C) A German scheme to buy millions of acres of rainforest for production and export of grains&#10;D) German intelligence agencies, working on the request of the United States to surveil Workers Party leaders

Accepted Answer

The Odebrecht scandal involved the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht, which admitted to bribing officials in a dozen countries to secure contracts. This scandal exposed widespread corruption across Latin America and even affected other regions, leading to investigations, arrests, and political upheaval in several countries.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an example of impunity?&#10;A) When taxation laws demand proportionally more from the poor than from the rich.&#10;B) When governments make no attempt to deter intimidation of opponents by paramilitary groups&#10;C) When politically connected people are able to evade consequences for crimes&#10;D) When police murders are tolerated by government officials

Accepted Answer

Impunity refers to exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action. Choices B, C, and D describe situations where individuals or groups are not held accountable for their actions, which aligns with the concept of impunity. Choice A, however, describes a situation of inequality or unfairness in taxation, which does not directly relate to the concept of being exempt from punishment or consequences.

Question 8

Homicide rates in most of Latin America are...&#10;A) Significantly lower than in the US&#10;B) Mostly a matter of armed assaults by poor against the middle class&#10;C) High everywhere, but especially higher in Havana, Cuba&#10;D) Steadily rising almost everywhere and eroding support for democracy

Accepted Answer

Homicide rates in Latin America are not uniformly high everywhere, nor are they significantly lower than in the US across the board. The characterization of homicides as mostly armed assaults by the poor against the middle class is an oversimplification and does not accurately describe the complex socio-economic dynamics at play. Havana, Cuba, does not have especially higher homicide rates compared to some other cities in Latin America; in fact, Cuba's homicide rate is lower than in many other Latin American countries. The correct statement is that homicide rates are a concern in parts of Latin America and can contribute to eroding support for democracy, as high crime rates can lead to public dissatisfaction with government performance and a desire for more authoritarian measures to restore order.

Question 9

Corruption in Latin America is...&#10;A) Widespread and generating mass protest movements&#10;B) Confined to the wealthiest sectors of society&#10;C) So pervasive that it no longer is a factor in politics&#10;D) Largely a myth and exagerated by populist movements

Accepted Answer

Corruption in Latin America is widespread and has led to significant public outcry and mass protest movements. Citizens across various countries have demonstrated against corruption, demanding transparency and accountability from their governments.

Question 10

The International Human Rights movement:&#10;A) Began when US president Jimmy Carter made human rights a goal of US foreign policy&#10;B) Was given significant momentum by Latin American women who protested against harsh military rule in the 1970s&#10;C) Was brought to Latin America by European immigrants in the 20th century&#10;D) Was created b the Organization of American States

Accepted Answer

The International Human Rights movement gained significant momentum from various global events and actions, including the protests by Latin American women against harsh military rule in the 1970s. These protests highlighted the abuses and brought international attention to human rights issues in the region, contributing to the broader movement.

Deck 15: Human Rights, Corruption, and the Rule of Law