Democracy Challenged: Latin America in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

Electoral democracy has shown remarkable resilience in Latin America, but the quality and depth of democracy in the region remain at risk. The real threat to democratic government in Latin America is not a reverse wave that would return the region to military rule, but rather the gradual erosion of democratic institutions. The myopic focus on elections is partly to blame for the fragility of Latin America’s democratic scaffolding. Competitive elections have masked the fact that other essential components of democracy have not taken root. Like the narrow focus on elections, the perception of Latin America as a monolithic entity has impeded a careful review of democracy in the region. The quality of democracy varies greatly across Latin America. The variation in the position of Latin American democracies along the democratic spectrum reflects the fact that the countries of the region face different challenges. The range of obstacles to democratic consolidation includes a weak rule of law, discredited political party systems, persistent inequality and poverty, social exclusion, and mounting violence and crime. To ensure that citizen dissatisfaction does not undermine the legitimacy of democratic government, policymakers must address these challenges.