Los psicólogos y las políticas públicas en América Latina: el big mac y los caballos de troia ; Psychologists and public policy in Latin America: The big mac and the trojan horses

Many Latin American societies have recently consolidated democratic regimes and moved cautiously but seriously towards different variations of a basic but still very fragile welfare State. Psychologists have played an active role in this process, both through their specific fields of expertise - in health, education and social assistance - and also through their engagement with communities and social movements. A new generation of psychologists has turned away from the traditional professional option of the liberal autonomous and sought opportunities within the new spaces being created in State, civil society and public interest agencies and within the discursive terrain of public policy, rights and citizenship. Whilst recognizing that this is a positive move forward, this paper questions prevailing assumptions that regard public policy, rights and citizenship as institutional certainties and argues that, on the contrary, rights and citizenship are far from consolidated in many areas of public action. As a result of this institutional fragility, Latin American psychology needs to urgently develop and incorporate new concepts and skills that enable it to play a more active role in the construction of everyday democracy. © Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso. ; Muchas sociedades latinoamericanas han consolidado recientemente regímenes democráticos dirigiéndose de manera sigilosa, aunque genuina, hacia diferentes variaciones de un básico pero frágil Estado benefactor. Los psicólogos han jugado un rol activo en este proceso, tanto a través de sus áreas específicas de conocimientos - en salud, educación y asistencia social – como a través de su compromiso con las comunidades y movimientos sociales. Una nueva generación de psicólogos se ha alejado de la opción profesional tradicional del liberal autónomo y busca oportunidades en los nuevos espacios que están siendo creados en el Estado, la sociedad civil, en agencias de ayuda pública y en el terreno discursivo de la política pública, los derechos y ...