Abstract

GALINDO, José. The Origin of Current Latin American Crony Capitalism: The Operation of Networks of Interests and Key Institutions in the Colonial Period. Am. Lat. Hist. Econ [online]. 2021, vol.28, n.3, e1221.  Epub Oct 04, 2021. ISSN 2007-3496.  https://doi.org/10.18232/alhe.1221.

This article reflects on the origin of collusive corruption, a contemporary term that in its definition links entrepreneurs and politicians through the formation of networks and that, under certain scenarios, it is synonymous with crony capitalism. It studies the characteristics and particularities of these networks specifically since the late colonial period, as well as their weight in limiting attempts to reform specific institutions in New Spain and other viceroyalties of the Spanish Crown. The main thesis of the article is that the colonial practices that led to the formation of networks between merchants and rulers set a precedent for today’s crony capitalism. For this, the article contrasts findings and affirmations of diverse duly contextualized sources. The article concludes with elements that allow us to rethink the continuity of collusive practices until today.

Keywords : colonial corruption; crony capitalism; collusive corruption; interest networks; social networks; Latin America.