New Publication Sheds Light on Political Financing Accountability in Uruguay

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The BIT-ACT’s newly published article titled Innovative but Feeble: Civil Society and Political Financing Accountability in Uruguay, examines the role of civil society in enhancing political financing transparency in Uruguay. Authored by Fernanda Odilla and Germán Bidegain, the study explores two innovative initiatives aimed at digitizing and mapping political funding data from Uruguay’s 2009 and 2014 elections. 

The initiatives sought to increase transparency by providing open access to political donations and spending information through interactive online platforms.

The research goes beyond the surface-level issues of transparency to investigate the deeper challenges civil society faces in holding political actors accountable for their finances. The paper emphasizes that transparency alone is insufficient to reduce corruption, as political financing accountability requires comprehensive oversight through a combination of bottom-up, horizontal, and diagonal mechanisms.

Using qualitative research, including documentary analysis and 19 interviews with activists, academics, journalists, and public officials, the authors found that while civil society efforts are crucial, they face significant limitations. The findings highlight the need for greater technological solutions, such as digital tools for reporting and disclosure, alongside more robust oversight by both authorities and the public.

This study contributes to the growing body of literature on political finance and civil society's role in promoting accountability, offering new insights into the often-overlooked obstacles in full democracies like Uruguay. The findings underscore the need for multi-dimensional approaches to political finance reform, ensuring that civil society’s innovative efforts are met with the institutional support needed for real change.

The paper can be accessed here https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/UAQNSUB4UIJZYVWSX9RE/full?target=10.1080/17448689.2024.2413524.