It was four decades ago when several countries in Latin America undertook transitions to more democratic forms of government. Instability, military or non-democratic regimes, social conflict, economic dependency, immigration and displacement, and human rights violations were all common themes in the region before the transitions. In the context of the Cold War framework, which was still alive in the 1980s, the transitions signaled a move away from a polarized global environment. As the majority of countries in Latin America made the transition to more democratic regimes and societies, hope and aspirations emerged for better opportunities, more stability, and for a new chapter that could finally reap the fruits of the socio-economic potential. Moreover, the democratic wave decreased the chances for radical ideological regimes, right or left. Today, however, Latin America stands again at the cusp of reversing back again into chaos, despair, conflict, poverty and normalizing internal polarization in a left-right continuum. I recently wrote an article trying to explain why Latin America, a region so wealthy in all kinds of resources finds itself again in a perilous vicious circle unable to provide for a majority of its citizens and stacked with old formulas amidst new challenges. Even before Covid-19, the signs of frustration with government policies were visible. What happened to the democratic prospects in Latin America?
Read More “Time to Save Democratic Governance in Latin America”