Abstract
Latin American democracy has been a controversial concept due to its different interpretations by scholars and political actors. Some authors emphasize its illiberal character and other ones its elitist notion. This essay will argue that democracy, in the region, has been a symbiosis between non-democratic liberalism and illiberal democracy. Therefore, the feasibility of this democracy with adjectives has been channelized by populist phenomenon.
Highlights
Democracy in Latin America has been a permanent issue of academic debates in recent decades, such as transition from authoritarian government to a democratic regime, quality of democracy, institutional arrangements, accountability and rule of law, or the relationship between populism and democracy
Populist leaders were an answer to non-democratic liberalism, whereas they weakened the process of political institutionalization in the region emphasizing elections over constitutional mechanisms
Non-democratic liberalism and illiberal democracies have been permanent patterns in the struggle for democracy in Latin America. The former has arguably generated economic and social marginalization, and the political participation was monopolized by elites through institutional arrangements, bureaucratic and administrative processes
Summary
Democracy in Latin America has been a permanent issue of academic debates in recent decades, such as transition from authoritarian government to a democratic regime, quality of democracy, institutional arrangements, accountability and rule of law, or the relationship between populism and democracy. The academic mainstream points out the analysis of democracy as a dichotomy between pure democratic regimes and different forms of authoritarianism The latter is a respectable position, but debatable because in the political reality there has been different kind of regimes which combine a range of liberal and illiberal characteristics. Arguing that democracy is essentially liberal and any illiberal regime is not democratic could represent academic purism This kind of analysis cannot be an appropriate framework to understand the complexity of political regimes, especially in Latin America. The three basic democratic conditions and the eight institutions allow the configuration of a democratic political regime based on minimums It is an ideal and theoretical concept to analyze and study democracy, not a pure and unquestionable reality. There will be a theoretical discussion about the preeminence of the illiberal democracies in the region
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
