Does shaming a government through human rights criticism actually change its behavior? This study examines how targeted governments respond to subsequent challenges. Analyzing 873 cases in seven Latin American countries between 1981 and 1995, findings show that repression decreased when governments faced relatively strong economic ties with other nations following criticism. However, this reduction was temporary — lasting less than six months. Furthermore, the source of criticism mattered: NGOs, religious groups, and foreign governments had more impact than inter-governmental organizations.
