Latin America’s New Crisis of Democracy

Abstract

Why have some countries in Latin America experienced democratic crises while others enjoyed stability? Recent scholarship suggests a number of explanations for Latin America’s ongoing instability, including economic decline, lack of development, poverty, inequality, social fragmentation, a crisis of political representation, and weaknesses in the rule of law. To assess these competing hypotheses, I conduct a qualitative comparative analysis of democratic crises in Latin America from 1990-2007. My research lends support to the argument that political-institutional conditions, specifically the nature of the political party system and the rule of law, have a determinate impact in explaining regime stability in contemporary Latin America. To promote democratic stability, the international community should therefore develop effective strategies to strengthen countries’ legislative and judicial institutions.