Democratic Backsliding in Latin America Today

What are the three major historical waves of democratization in Latin America?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

• Aftermath of World War 1 -1908

• Decolonization - 1944

• Decline of Communism -1989

Describe Democratic Backsliding?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

Decline in the quality of democracy, including erosion of civil liberties, weakening of democratic institutions, and rise of authoritarian practices.

Which countries in Latin America were historically ruled by military dictatorships in the Southern Cone?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

• Chile

• Brazil

• Argentina

• Uruguay

Example of a government that classified as Authoritarianism with statelessness and instability:

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

Haiti

What is an example of a durable dictatorship?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

Cuba

What are some Latin American countries that have had civil wars and genocides.

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

• El Salvador,

• Guatemala,

• Peru,

  Colombia

What are some causes of Democratic Backsliding?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

• Voting for autocrats (executive takeovers)

• Authoritarian grassroots movements

• State capacity failures

• Degrading democratic principles

• Acute political conflict due to social tensions and savvy leader

What are examples of authoritarian grassroots movements?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

Pentecostal political movements in Brazil.

What is an authoritarian grassroots movement?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

a community-based effort that mobilizes individuals around a shared goal or issue

How can democratic erosion be stopped, according to Gamboa (2017)?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

Through domestic opposition using moderate goals and leveraging the slow nature of democratic erosion for legitimacy at home and abroad.

What is the "Right to Assist" concept?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

A concept related to the "Responsibility to Protect," advocating for international coordination to support democracy and prevent authoritarianism.

Which countries are considered beacons of democratic hope in Latin America today?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

• Costa Rica

• Uruguay

• Colombia

• Brazil

• Chile.

What are grassroots strategies for resisting democratic erosion?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

• Nonviolent organizing

• Civil resistance

• Coalition-building

• International advocacy

Why is state capacity failure a cause of backsliding?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

Weak or corrupt states fail to provide security and services, leading to citizen frustration and openness to authoritarian alternatives (e.g., in Mexico and Venezuela).

How has Brazil's democracy changed under Bolsonaro?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

While Brazil improved its Freedom House score recently, it experienced democratic decline during Bolsonaro’s presidency, including attacks on democratic norms and institutions.

What does Svolik (2019) suggest about why people vote for autocrats?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

People may prioritize partisan loyalty or short-term goals over long-term democratic principles, enabling executive takeovers and autocratization.

What role does public opinion play in democratic erosion?

Derived From (Democratic Backsliding in Latin America)

Public opinion can either resist or enable autocratic tendencies—especially when voters support authoritarian candidates or movements due to dissatisfaction with democracy or security concerns.

How does state capacity failure affect democracy in Latin America? (Derived from Neoliberalism)

States inability to provide basic services, security, or economic stability causes the public to favor authoritarian government because it can provide positive results.

Why is democratic erosion often difficult to stop once it starts? (Derived from Neoliberalism)

It’s a slow process that can go unnoticed until institutions are severely weakened, making reversal difficult without strong opposition.

What is the role of “savvy leaders” in democratic erosion? (Derived Neoliberalism)

They exploit social tensions, manipulate public opinion, and erode institutions subtly over time.

How does executive takeover contribute to democratic backsliding? ( Derived Neoliberalism)

Elected leaders gradually concentrate power, weaken checks and balances, and undermine democratic norms (e.g., Venezuela, Brazil).

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): Why might governments ignore negative population impacts when implementing neoliberal policies?

Reforms are often imposed or incentivized by external actors (like the IMF), prioritizing macroeconomic goals over social equity.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): How do neoliberal policies lead to individualization?

Placing an emphasis on personal competition and self-interest, discouraging social solidarity and group-based political organizing.

What contradiction exists between democracy and neoliberal reforms? (derived from Neoliberalism slides)

often reduce government accountability to the public, favoring market interests over democratic representation.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): How does privatization under neoliberalism affect public ownership?

publicly owned industries are sold to private investors, reducing citizen control and often lowering service accessibility.

Why do Export Processing Zones ( EPZs) often lack labor unions and safety regulations? (derived from Neoliberalism slides)

To reduce costs and attract foreign investment by minimizing restrictions on businesses and labor protections.

How did neoliberalism impact political and social cohesion? (derived from Neoliberalism slides)

By promoting individualism and competition, it weakened collective action, labor unions, and political organizations.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): Why did populations accept neoliberal reforms despite their harsh effects?

Many countries were facing economic crises or civil unrest, and people hoped the reforms would bring stability.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): How did neoliberalism affect democracy in Latin America?

By prioritizing business interests over citizens’ needs, it weakened democratic accountability and reduced participation.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides) What were the social impacts of structural adjustment policies?

• Increased income inequality

• Job losses and higher unemployment

• Reduced welfare systems

• Declining state responsibility for citizens' well-being

(derived from Neoliberalism slides) Why did Latin American countries adopt structural adjustment policies?

Due to high levels of foreign debt, they were pressured by international institutions to adopt these policies in exchange for financial aid.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides) What is the Washington Consensus?

A set of ten economic policy recommendations promoted by the IMF, World Bank, and U.S. Treasury for crisis-affected countries to stabilize and liberalize their economies.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): When were neoliberal reforms most widely adopted in Latin America?

During the 1980s and 1990s.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): How was the state perceived under neoliberal reforms?

The state was seen as inefficient; reforms sought to reduce its role by privatizing industries and promoting market-driven efficiency.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): What was the role of women in EPZs?

Women were employed as cheap, unprotected labor without safety or security guarantees.

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): What are Export Processing Zones (EPZs), and why were they created?

EPZs (Export Processing Zones) are special economic areas with relaxed laws to attract foreign investment

Name Export Processing Zones (EPZs) derived from Neoliberalism slides):

• Tax exemptions

• No labor unions

• Fewer labor and environmental regulations

• Lower wages

(derived from Neoliberalism slides): What are some consequences of reducing business tax rates under neoliberalism?

• Loss of state revenue

• Cuts in welfare funding

• Mass layoffs

• Reduced investment in education and health

(derived from Neoliberalism slides) What is neoliberalism in the context of Latin American economic policy?

An economic ideology promoting deregulation, market expansion, elimination of trade tariffs, reduction of government subsidies, and policies that favor businesses and foreign investment.

What does it mean for a character in Latinx literature to inhabit a liminal space?

Occupying an in-between identity—neither fully American nor fully Latin American—highlighting cultural hybridity and dislocation.

How does Latinx literature challenge traditional conceptions of American literature?

It redefines "American" by including transnational voices and histories that are often marginalized, similar to how Black, Native American, and other ethnic literatures have expanded the canon.

How is the U.S. implicated in the existence of Latinx literature and identity?

Through decades of intervention in Latin America, the U.S. has contributed to political instability and mass migration—thus shaping the Latinx experience in the U.S.

What historical movement laid the foundation for Latinx studies in universities?

The 1960s–70s student-led ethnic studies movement, which demanded representation of marginalized communities within higher education

Why is there tension between Latin American Studies and Latinx Studies in U.S. universities?

Latin American Studies has long received federal funding to study foreign regions, while Latinx Studies—focused on U.S.-based Latinx populations—was historically neglected and remains politically and institutionally distinct.

What role did the Cold War play in shaping Latinx demographics and literature?

U.S. anti-communist interventions in Latin America caused political instability, forced migration, and exile—conditions that deeply inform Latinx literary themes.

According to Ricardo Ortiz, what concept connects Latin American history to Latinx literature?

The transnational consequence of U.S. imperialism, which created diasporas and shaped how Latinx writers understand identity, displacement, and cultural survival.

: What is the significance of exile versus immigration in Latinx narratives?

Exile involves forced departure, often due to political reasons, and highlights themes of trauma, injustice, and disconnection, unlike voluntary immigration.

How does the concept of "bothness" function in Latinx identity?

It reflects a desire to embrace both American and Latin American roots, rather than choosing one over the other.

Why is the inclusion of Afro-Latinx, Asian Latinx, and queer Latinx voices essential in discussions of Latinx identity?

Because traditional definitions often exclude or marginalize these experiences, highlighting the need for more inclusive and accurate representations within Latinx studies.

Why did the U.S. initially welcome Cuban immigrants in 1959?

Due to Cold War anti-communist policies, the U.S. positioned itself as a democratic refuge from Castro’s dictatorship—even if this welcome was symbolic and not fully inclusive.

What was Operation Pedro Pan?

A Cold War-era program supported by the U.S. government and Catholic Church that brought Cuban children to the U.S., often placing them with relatives or strangers.

What happened during the Mariel Boatlift of 1980?

Fidel Castro allowed prisoners and people in asylums to leave Cuba, sending them to the U.S., which created tensions and challenged public opinion about Cuban immigration.

Why did Cuban immigrants historically receive special immigration privileges in the U.S.?

Because of U.S. Cold War politics—Cubans fleeing communism were granted preferential treatment, including automatic permanent residency (until recently), unlike other Latin Americans.

What tensions exist within Latinx communities due to Cuban-U.S. relations?

Cuban Americans’ preferential immigration status has led to friction with other Latinx groups who face more difficult migration paths and lack the same political support..

What tensions exist within Latinx communities due to Cuban-U.S. relations?

Cuban Americans’ preferential immigration status has led to friction with other Latinx groups who face more difficult migration paths and lack the same political support.

According to Ricardo Ortiz, what leads to the creation of Latinx literature?

U.S. political and military interventions in Latin America created waves of forced migration, which gave rise to a diverse, transnational body of literature rooted in exile and identity.

What does Ortiz mean by Latinx identity being "polycultural, polyethnic, polynational, and polylingual"?

Latinx identity includes multiple races, ethnicities, languages, and national backgrounds, complicating any singular or fixed definition.

What is the concept of "geopoetics" as described by Ortiz?

A literary vision that transcends political borders and national identities to imagine shared, borderless human experiences—writing as a space where communities exist and resist together.

What is the contrast between "the rights of anyone" and "the rights of everyone" in Ortiz’s writing?

He critiques systems that prioritize individual or national interests over collective human rights and shared dignity across communities.

What controversies surround Junot Díaz?

In 2018, multiple women accused him of harassment and misconduct. Despite this, he remained in his positions at MIT and on the Pulitzer board, raising debates about power and accountability.

What are some criticisms of Díaz’s writing style and themes?

He’s criticized for vulgar language, misogyny, objectification of women, and performative masculinity—even as his work is praised for its raw honesty and cultural authenticity.

Why is Díaz considered a “seductive narrator”?

Despite controversial content, his use of colloquial, code-switched language and emotionally charged storytelling creates a powerful narrative voice that many readers find compelling.

hat does Díaz’s popularity and criticism reveal about Latinx literature?

It highlights internal tensions around representation, authenticity, gender politics, and who gets to define Latinx identity in mainstream literary spaces.

What is the current status of Díaz’s literary career?

Post-controversy, he has published essays, reviews, and short stories—potentially shifting focus to memoir in the future.