Democracy in Latin America is being put to the test: Mexico’s ruling party is using its majority to overhaul democratic institutions and weaken checks and balances. Venezuela’s autocrat, Nicolás Maduro, has been sworn in for a third term after stealing an election he clearly lost. And the legacy of covid-19, which brought power grabs and empowered citizen movements, is still shaping the region’s politics.
The following Journal of Democracy essays, free for a limited time, unpack the latest in Latin American democracy.
Is Mexico at the Gates of Authoritarianism?
The country’s outgoing president relentlessly attacked Mexico’s democratic institutions, taking it to the brink of authoritarianism. His successor is poised to push its democracy over the edge.
Azul A. Aguiar Aguilar, Rodrigo Castro Cornejo, and Alejandro Monsiváis-CarrilloHow Maduro Stole Venezuela’s Vote
Nicolás Maduro brazenly stole Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, despite a free, fair, and transparent ballot count that showed a clear opposition victory. Why would an autocrat want to maintain one of the world’s best voting systems?
Javier Corrales and Dorothy KronickHow Covid Changed Latin America
Covid-19 swept across Latin America with devastating effects. But it had unexpected positive consequences too, as citizens ousted inept politicians and pushed back against the inequities laid bare by the pandemic.
Oliver Kaplan, Michael Albertus, Diana Senior-Angulo, and Gustavo Flores-Macías
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Image Credit: Gobierno de la Ciudad de México