HONR 208 Democracy and Neoliberalism in Latin America

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from HONR 208 Weeks 5 and 6 lecture notes, including democratic processes, Latin American political shifts, neoliberalism, and the Pink Tide.

Democratic Backsliding

The slow erosion of democracy (deconsolidation) occurring inside the government in power, making it very difficult for the current leader or government to shift power equally and fairly.

Nayib Bukele

Leader born in 1982 who was elected and re-elected, got rid of term limits, proved very popular, and brought the homicide rate down to 4%.

Modern Political Democracy

A system of governance in which rulers are held accountable for their actions in the public realm by citizens, acting indirectly through elected representatives while protecting rights and liberties.

Rule of Law

The principle that all people, leaders, and institutions must obey public laws that are enforced equally and independently judged, ensuring no one is above the law.

Democratization

The process of transitioning a political system from a monarchy or dictator toward a democracy.

Democratic Consolidation

The state of a mature, stable, and solid democracy where returning to authoritarianism is almost impossible or unthinkable.

Caudillos

Strong leaders who emerged in Latin America following independence after Europe left.

Neoliberalism

An economic framework predominant in Latin America in the 1980s-1990s characterized by privatization, reduced government intervention, cut social spending, and low taxes.

Washington Consensus

A term synonymous with neoliberalism that describes the economic approach favored by and governing the United States.

The Pink Tide

A late 1990s political shift to the left in Latin America starting with Venezuela, characterized as light communism that retained markets, limited nationalism, and private enterprise.

Post-neoliberalism

An approach following neoliberalism where much of the market structure stays the same, but the government takes responsibility to ensure income equality.

2000s Commodity Boom

A period during which Latin American countries generated significant revenue through commodities, causing poverty to drop before running out of money due to corruption and purchasing scandals.

1991 Soviet Union Collapse

The collapse of the Soviet Union that reduced US fear of complete leftist movements and decreased Latin American fears of US invasion, driving demand for more government involvement.