The Travails of Democracy in Latin America

LAC academic year 2024-25 opened with an inaugural lecture by Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) and former Falconer Scholar at the University of Oxford, where he examined the roots and triggers of democratic deterioration in Latin America, placing these issues within a global context.  In our LAC blog, Dr Casas-Zamora offers a summary of his talk.  The full text of his lecture can be found here.

Illnesses undermining democracy worldwide

The current problems of democracy are serious. International IDEA’s Global State of Democracy Report 2024 highlights a troubling decline in democratic quality, with nearly half of the 173 countries studied experiencing significant erosion. This marks the eighth consecutive year of such decline, the longest in half a century.

Democracy faces significant global challenges, that can be categorized into four main groups. First, political polarization, driven by social media and disinformation, fragments the democratic community and undermines social integration. Second, democratic systems struggle to respond to increasing social demands and crises, leading to a rise in authoritarian populism. Third, corruption and impunity erode the legitimacy of democratic systems, reinforcing perceptions of inequality and favoritism. Finally, international factors, such as the Iraq invasion and the 2008-09 financial crisis, have damaged the credibility of democratic powers, particularly in the West. As a result, alternative governance models, including illiberal democracies and hybrid regimes, intensify competition with liberal democracy.

In Latin America, indifference to democracy has risen significantly according to Latinobarometro, with many perceiving the political system as favoring the powerful. Globally, dissatisfaction with democracy has increased from 48% to 58%, since the mid-1990s (World Values Survey), with 72% of Latin Americans believing their political system benefits a select few. This disenchantment fuels support for demagogues offering simple, often authoritarian solutions.

For democracy to survive, it must address these challenges and harness its self-correcting capacity. Citizens need to feel heard and see tangible benefits from a system marked by fairness and equality. The loss of faith in democratic institutions’ ability to deliver fairness has weakened democracy, making people more willing to abandon it. This in turn has benefited autocrats. Democracy faces a global struggle against both external threats and internal decay, necessitating a redesign to solve contemporary problems and restore faith in its principles.

Addressing Challenges to Democracy in Latin America

The crisis of democracy in Latin America varies by country. Venezuela and Nicaragua face different issues compared to Northern Central America, where criminal violence is a major problem. Colombia deals with the aftermath of armed conflict, while Argentina struggles with inflation. Despite these differences, some common themes emerge.

Latin America has made significant progress in holding elections, even during the pandemic. Blatant fraud has become rare, and most people accept elections as the legitimate way to gain power. However, struggles persist, such as the lack of unanimous condemnation of Venezuela’s situation, and attacks on electoral authorities in Mexico, Brazil, and Peru. The region also struggles with the rule of law. Weak rule of law leads to authoritarian populism, undermining democratic processes. The Global State of Democracy Report shows Latin America scores well on representation but poorly on the rule of law. Establishing democracy before solidifying the rule of law leads to flawed democracies prone to abuse, impunity, and weak institutional credibility. This weakness is linked to inequality, which distorts power relations and fuels impunity. Inequality and weak rule of law create a vicious cycle, leading to corruption and violence. High crime rates and insecurity undermine support for democracy and drive people towards authoritarian solutions. Thus, strengthening the rule of law is crucial for building solid democracies in the region.

Crime, especially organized crime, is a major challenge for Latin American democracies, spreading in recent years to previously unaffected countries like Costa Rica, Chile, and Uruguay. For instance, Costa Rica’s murder rate surged from 4 per 100,000 inhabitants in the 1980s to over 17 by 2023. This rise in violence in the region is a significant political issue. This is exemplified by El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, who is popular for his harsh crackdown on gangs which bring increased stability but also human rights violations. The demand for safety often outweighs democratic principles. Hence, violence must be prevented and controlled in ways compatible with human rights for democracy to survive.

Corruption remains critical, with Latin America scoring poorly on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. Social attitudes against corruption have hardened, but the perception of a rigged system persists, fueled by inequality and legally sanctioned privileges. This undermines democratic institutions and exacerbates public disaffection, contributing to events like Chile’s 2019 social explosion and the election of Javier Milei in Argentina. Weak rule of law, rampant crime, impunity, and corruption drive authoritarian populism.

To secure democracy’s future in Latin America, we must address societal divisions and ensure democracy delivers fairness. This involves establishing the rule of law, protecting judicial independence, reducing impunity for corruption and crime, ensuring democratic access to justice, and maintaining checks and balances. Without these, democracy remains precarious.

Defending Democracy in Latin America

Democracy in Latin America faces threats from both traditional and sophisticated new forms of undermining including internal disenchantment and leaders who disregard democratic principles thereby posing existential threats to the region’s democratic achievements. Despite all the challenges, democracy in Latin America has made significant strides. Elections are the legitimate path to power, and social progress has been notable, with poverty and inequality reduced over the past three decades. Social investment has increased, influenced by democratic participation. It is crucial to defend democracy from within, recognizing its achievements and resisting narratives that undermine it. The region’s progress, though slow, is significant, and maintaining democratic integrity is essential for continued social advancement.

Democracy, despite its flaws, is essential for building equitable societies and transparent governments in Latin America. It requires respect for the rule of law, integrity, press freedom, tax reforms, and social inclusion. Persevering in the democratic journey that Latin Americans started over the past generation is a duty, but it is also an opportunity for us all.

Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora has been the Secretary-General of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), a Stockholm-based intergovernmental organization with a mandate to advance democracy, since August 2019. He is also Senior Fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue, a policy research centre in Washington, Previously, he was Costa Rica’s Second Vice President and Minister of National Planning. He holds a Law degree from the University of Costa Rica, a Masters in Government from the University of Essex, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Oxford. His doctoral thesis, entitled “Paying for Democracy in Latin America: Political Finance and State Subsidies for Parties in Costa Rica and Uruguay”, won the 2004 Jean Blondel PhD Prize of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) and was published in 2005 by the ECPR.