During the early months of 2000, severe inflation hit Ecuador , triggering a vicious cycle caused by mismanagement of oil capital, the collapse of its price, and deals between the government and corrupt banks. To curb popular discontent and the inflation itself, the conservative government of Jamil Mahuad decided to eliminate the local currency ( the sucre ) and introduce the dollar as the official currency, with the ulterior motive of drawing the United States closer and further integrating it into the management of the country's oil resources.
The socialist turn in Ecuador
In 2007, Rafael Correa 's Socialist Party won the elections and gained increasing legitimacy over the years: the referendums proposed by the government received up to 70% of the popular vote. The socialist and truly democratic transformation relies on the referendum , used frequently and in crucial decisions affecting Ecuador's present and future. This instrument has been especially useful for bypassing lobbies and powerful forces, thus avoiding corruption like those experienced by previous governments. The 2007 constitutional reform addresses important issues of human rights and nature , including indigenous populations and natural areas in a protection program that simply did not exist before. The new, heavy taxation (ranging from 13% to 87%) on oil profits has caused many companies to abandon the fields, while state-owned enterprises have taken over their management, strengthening the link between industry and tax authorities.
Employment has been diversified, thus reducing economic dependence on oil, and international partnerships have been diversified to reduce dependence on the United States. Numerous changes have been made to wages and working conditions , as well as public construction projects and raising welfare standards. Despite attempts by the conservative right to spark revolts and a coup, the Andean country's socio-political situation has remained stable and strengthened over the years.
The leading role of sociology
These and other innovations in Ecuador's government structure were conceived with a strong sociological conscience and a willingness to apply specific knowledge to carry out such a vast and complex project. According to Luis Rivadeneira Játiva , it was necessary to understand and come to terms with Ecuadorian society, with the strong influence of Andean cultures and the need for a positive vision of the nation's future. Sociology must therefore become the starting point for unraveling the tangle of society's structural decline, taking professors and students into account in problem analysis, economic future planning, and political management. Since 2010, the Ecuadorian branch of ALAS , the Latin American Association of Sociology ( http://sociologia-alas.org/ ), has promoted the importance of sociological studies and reaffirmed the crucial role of sociologists in social structure, analysis, planning, and its revolution or reform.
René Verneau
