Panama- a case study of oligarchic rule

Abstract (English)

The following paper shall examine Panama as an example of oligarchic rule. Oligarchy is a term usually used to describe the rule of a small group, often from the same social background. It was coined in Ancient Greece and had been used by the most renowned Greek philosophers. It has not gone out of use- it is often utilized to describe the elites of many post-Soviet states. Moreover, it has been utilized by numerous Latin American intellectuals to describe the owning classes of the region. Those defintions shall serve as a framework for my study.
As has revealed my research- the isthmian republic of Panama is a fine example of an oligarchy. The landed elites and the Panamanian bourgeoisie have mantained their interests and social position throught the decades, heavily influencing the political landscape of the country, despite the numerous changes that it has faced. This select group of families have also often occupied important public offices in order to serve their own particular interests, often to the detriment of the general public. This narrow caste of business elites has also kept their circle relatively closed. Throught the years the business interests of these families have intertwined, as have bonds of blood.
Panama has been making headlines recently due to Donald Trump's bold statements concerning the ownership of the Canal. Nonetheless this is not the only problem the country has been facing. Numerous internal social problems, such as inequality, low social mobility, corruption and poor public services, have been leading to unrest. A study of the countries hermetic ruling elite may help explain many of these problems.