Democratic Consolidation in Latin America The influence of socio-economic factors on consolidation in Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Uruguay

In the early 1980s most Latin American countries made a transition from authoritarian to democratic regimes. They went along with the third wave of democratization that had started in the 1970s in Southern Europe (Linz ,Stepan and Gunther 1995, 124). In 1978 only three of the twenty Latin American countries were democratic; Colombia, Venezuela and Costa Rica. By 1992, 15 of the remaining countries transitioned to semi-democratic or democratic regimes. Democracy had been experienced previously in this region, but it was a very oligarchic regime with limited competition. Besides, democracy had never lasted long and it has never involved as many countries as after during the third wave (Hagopian and Mainwaring 2005, 1-2). However, this does not mean that democratization has been entirely successful. Unlike the Southern European countries which were able to consolidate, most Latin American countries are still facing challenges of creating stable, consolidated democracies. In fact, many...Show moreIn the early 1980s most Latin American countries made a transition from authoritarian to democratic regimes. They went along with the third wave of democratization that had started in the 1970s in Southern Europe (Linz ,Stepan and Gunther 1995, 124). In 1978 only three of the twenty Latin American countries were democratic; Colombia, Venezuela and Costa Rica. By 1992, 15 of the remaining countries transitioned to semi-democratic or democratic regimes. Democracy had been experienced previously in this region, but it was a very oligarchic regime with limited competition. Besides, democracy had never lasted long and it has never involved as many countries as after during the third wave (Hagopian and Mainwaring 2005, 1-2). However, this does not mean that democratization has been entirely successful. Unlike the Southern European countries which were able to consolidate, most Latin American countries are still facing challenges of creating stable, consolidated democracies. In fact, many of these countries are not fully democratic yet or are facing democratic erosion (Millet 2009, 5; Linz, Stepan and Gunther 1995, 124). This is mostly due to the fact that governments have not been able to deal with certain problems that most Latin American countries have in common: problems like poverty, inequality, and high crime rates. This has led to dissatisfaction with democracy and to popular unrest (Hagopian and Mainwaring 2005, 1-2). Fortunately, this does not apply to all countries. Chile, Uruguay and Costa Rica for example, are considered to be consolidated democracies. Why is it that democracy has consolidated in some countries and it hasn’t in others?Show less

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Democratic Consolidation in Latin America The influence of socio-economic factors on consolidation in Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Uruguay