As part of the activities marking the 60th anniversary of desco, a long-standing partner of the Geneva Graduate Institute for more than twenty years, a seminar was held on Development, Democracy and Inequalities: The Urgency of an Agenda for Inclusion. The event sought to provide a plural space for analysis, debate, and collective reflection on the challenges facing Latin America and Peru in a context of persistent inequality and the weakening of democratic pacts.

Organised into several panels and held on 14 and 15 August 2025, the seminar dedicated one session to inequality, power, and politics, with a focus on “The Role of Elites in the Persistence of Inequalities.” This panel, led by the Geneva Graduate Institute, offered a critical and in-depth analysis of how elites operate across different spheres—from tax systems to the media and political representation—stimulating debate on mechanisms that could democratise power and foster more inclusive and equitable processes.

The discussion featured Graziella Moraes, Co-Director of the Albert Hirschman Centre for Democracy and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the Geneva Graduate Institute, as keynote speaker. Her presentation was followed by comments from Jorge Morel, Director of the IEP and alumnus of the Institute’s Master in Development Studies, and moderated by Liliana Soler, Academic Coordinator of the Executive Diploma in Development Policies and Practices at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

Graziella Moraes’ presentation explored how elites have become a pressing social and sociological issue, how they have traditionally been studied in Latin America, the strengths and limitations of new approaches to elite studies, and how such research can contribute to addressing inequalities in the region.

Her thought-provoking lecture, enriched by Jorge Morel’s insightful comments and skilfully moderated by Liliana Soler, generated a dynamic exchange with the audience. Together, they provided valuable perspectives on how elites shape the reproduction of inequalities and what strategies might help democratise access to power while limiting institutional capture.

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More information on the Executive Programmes in Development Policies and Practices on executive.graduateinstitute.ch/dpp