Study Notes on Latin America's Democracies
Authors and Publication
Scott Mainwaring
Title: Eugene and Helen Conley Professor of Political Science
Institution: University of Notre Dame
Aníbal Pérez-Liñán
Title: Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs
Institution: University of Notre Dame
Published In: Journal of Democracy, Volume 34, Number 1, January 2023, pp. 156-170
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2023.0010
Overview of Democracy in Latin America
Historical Context (1990s-2010):
Democracy was deepening across most Latin American nations.
Only one fully authoritarian regime: Cuba.
Concerns primarily focused on the mediocre quality of democracy.
Notable democratic improvement in Brazil between 1985 and 2010.
Recent Decline (Post-2010):
Marked deterioration in democratic quality across the region.
Latin America contributes to the global decline of democracy.
Current state is the worst since the late 1980s; stagnation is common.
Six countries faced democratic breakdowns (Venezuela, Nicaragua, Brazil, Mexico, El Salvador).
No significant democratic deepening noted since 2001 (Peruvian restoration).
Concept of Democratic Stagnation
Definition of Democratic Stagnation:
Persistent deficits in democratic quality.
Countries demonstrate minimal political change over time.
Common characteristics include difficulties in achieving higher-quality democracy.
Factors Impeding Democratic Deepening:
Powerful Actors: Organized crime, unreformed police forces, remnants of old authoritarian regimes.
Poor Governance: Leads to dissatisfaction with democracy; opens pathways for authoritarian populists.
Hybrid States: Exhibit a mix of effective governance and authoritarian practices; obstruct citizen rights and welfare.
Effects on Citizens:
Weakened commitment to democracy leading to stagnation.
Quantitative Assessments of Democracy
Measures Used:
Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) scores and Freedom House ratings.
Liberal Democracy Index: 67 questions from V-Dem; 25 questions from Freedom House.
Trends (2002-2021):
Gradual decline in democratic scores from 2007 to 2021.
Example: V-Dem average weighted score decreased from 58.6 in 2005 to 45.8 in 2021.
Country Comparisons:
V-Dem scores show significant cross-country variation.
Example of scoring:
High-level liberal democracies: Costa Rica, Chile, Uruguay.
Competitive authoritarian regimes: El Salvador, Haiti.
Closed authoritarian regimes: Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua.
Characteristics of Authoritarianism in Latin America
Defining Characteristics of Democracy:
Free and fair elections.
Broad set of political and civil rights.
Effective mechanisms for accountability.
Limits of Democratic Functionality:
Many regimes classified as semidemocratic or poorly functioning.
Examples of democratic stagnation: Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru.
Factors Contributing to Democratic Stagnation and Erosion
Thin Democratic Transitions:
Associate transitions democratized superficially; deeper authoritarian influences remained.
Illiberal Presidents:
Leadership styles that undermine respect for democratic norms.
Examples include Hugo Chávez (Venezuela) and Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil).
Mediocre Governance:
Economic growth stagnation, high rates of inequality, and corruption fuel public dissatisfaction.
Notable high homicide rates lead to public security crises.
Governance Indicators
Economic Growth Statistics:
Average economic growth rates have lagged since 1997 with low GDP growth.
Crime and Violence Data:
El Salvador has the world's highest homicide rate (2022).
Deep inequalities and corruption persist across the region.
Governance Quality:
Only a few countries rank well on corruption control and rule of law indices.
Conclusion on Democratic Challenges
Current State of Democracy:
Demands for genuine democratic governance are evident.
Continued vigilance against eroding democratic norms is critical as populism rises.
Lessons for Future Governance:
Necessity to overcome deeper challenges through effective governance and enhancing citizen security.