https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vdqpwmKwu4
How did the event "Equality with Democracy: The Batllist Project in Uruguay as an Alternative to the Cuban Model" come about?
I travel frequently to Miami for a combination of family and business matters. That led me to explore the possibility of combining those trips with my academic work and my goal of promoting Uruguay’s image in that field. In conversations with Professor Pedro Isern, with whom I share academic interests, we began making some contacts and were thus able to coordinate this activity, which proved of interest to theLatin American and Caribbean Center (LACC)and the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University (FIU), which decided to co-sponsor the event.
How did you prepare for it?
Batllism is a subject I’m passionate about, and I’ve devoted a great deal of time to studying it. It’s the central theme of my master’s thesis in history, and it’s a topic I regularly cover in the various courses I teach at Universidad ORT Uruguay. The preparation came very naturally, and in any case, I focused on structuring the presentation for an audience unfamiliar with the topic, while also relating it to the issue of the imminent transition in Cuba and what this model has to offer in that process.
What did it consist of? What were the main concepts you sought to convey?
The event was a 45-minute academic talk in which I presented the pillars of the innovative model implemented in Uruguay during the first three decades of the 20th century under the undisputed leadership of José Batlle y Ordóñez, the model’s relevance today, and Uruguay’s relative uniqueness in building solid institutions within a system that is both deeply democratic and deeply egalitarian. That conviction that our social and political model is, to some extent, an example for the rest of the continent, along with the relative lack of awareness of the phenomenon, are the points I sought to convey. There was then a question-and-answer session, which was very fruitful and demonstrated the interest of those present.
What aspects of Batllism did you focus on?
I attempted to provide an overview of the main pillars that underpinned Batlló’s model. In doing so, I focused on highlighting his commitment to the secularization of the state, the protection of the most vulnerable, the expansion of education, the deepening of democracy and citizen participation, and so on—in short, a comprehensive look at the characteristics of his vision.
Why is Batllism important for Latin America and Cuba? In what ways is it applicable?
I am convinced that one of Uruguay’s greatest strengths as a country is its political stability, its respect for democracy, the strength of its institutions, and its ability to bring together all sectors of society based on a set of values that we might describe as a “secular morality.” All these things, although they have faced and continue to face tensions, set us apart from a subcontinent torn between populism, authoritarianism, and Marxism—all failed models that still show their worst side today. That is why reflecting on the foundations, on the pillars upon which the Batllista model was built, is important for envisioning a possible democratic path forward in Cuba. There is no dichotomy between freedom and equality. There is a need to reach a consensus to build a welfare state suited to today’s world and capable of regulating the inconsistencies of capitalism. In that sense, it is important to share the Uruguayan experience.
You cover the topic of Batllism in your classes, right? As a teacher, how did you feel about that experience?
It is an unforgettable experience. Having the opportunity to give a lecture at a university of FIU’s prestige and stature is an immense honor. Being able to share, even in a small way, Uruguay’s experience and contribute to a better understanding of the country in such an important setting is also deeply satisfying. ORT, with its support and the trust it has placed in my teaching over the years, has played a key role in this achievement, for which I am deeply grateful and which I greatly value.