2012 Articles

The Private Sector and Political Parties: Guatemala, a Case Study

Lemus, Joshua

"In this paper, I examine the relationship that exists between the private sector and political parties in Guatemala. I define the private sector as a group of business people—owners, shareholders, and business executives—who organize to promote and defend their economic activities. Compared to the private sectors of countries like Mexico and El Salvador, which have traditionally enjoyed strong links with a political party, such as Partido de Acción Nacional (PAN) and Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA), the Guatemalan private sector has not united its efforts behind an electoral project. I address the following questions: why has the private sector in Guatemala not built strong links with a political party? In the absence of a political party, how does the private sector express their interests? What other mechanisms of political influence does the private sector use?"--from page 188