Latin America Needs More Than Elections To Solidify Democracy

Although democracy is practiced in several Latin American states, it is constantly menaced by the pervasive presences of crime and corruption. These ills have to addressed if democracy will survive on the continent. This article is published by the World Politics Review. Here is an excerpt:

Across Latin America, countries have come a long way in building democratic institutions. Most hold competitive and inclusive elections, for example. But the pervasive presence of organized crime and corruption has made progress in other areas, like the rule of law, difficult, leaving trust in the state almost nonexistent in many parts of Latin American.

Kevin Casas-Zamora, secretary-general of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, joins Peter Dörrie to discuss these issues, as well as the region’s reaction to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, given Moscow’s attempts over the past two decades to strengthen its ties to Latin America.

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