In recent years, the state of democratic governance in Latin America has been decidedly mixed. Discussion has turned away from elections and the leftward swings in several countries. Electoral contests are increasingly a matter of routine, and ideology has become notably less salient. The debate now centers on how leaders and institutions confront the complicated tasks of managing their economic and social affairs while representing heterogeneous societies with heightened demands and expectations.
The Inter-American Dialogue closely monitors the state of democratic governance and the rule of law in the countries of the Western Hemisphere. Our analysis, reports, and exchanges serve to encourage compliance with regional and international democratic commitments. In recent years, the Dialogue has placed emphasis on elections, press freedom, public opinion within Latin America’s growing middle class, and the implications of political shifts.
On February 27, 2024, Manuel Orozco, director of the Migration, Remittances, and Development program at the Inter-American Dialogue, presented the presentation, “Migración, Remesas y Desarrollo en Guatemala Tendencias y Recomendaciones” (or “Migration, Remittances, and Development in Guatemala – Trends and Recommendations”) to students at the Centro Universitario de San Marcos (CUSAM).
The Venezuelan opposition primaries saw a remarkable turnout, with over 2.3 million voters, resulting in María Corina Machado’s victory despite her disqualification by the regime. The Barbados Agreement and the lifting of US sanctions offer a potential breakthrough for establishing some electoral conditions. However, a transition of power cannot occur without a clear and coherent path forward beyond election day.
Los mercados no siempre discriminan entre gobiernos democráticos y autócratas, o si violan o no derechos humanos, pero la narrativa está cambiando. Hay que ayudar a que el discurso cambie, como ocurrió con los criterios ESG.
El mercado es inherentemente incapaz de discriminar entre gobiernos democráticos y no democráticos [...] Es una cuestión que ha sido muy importante en el contexto de la inversión en América Latina. Hemos visto instituciones democráticas amenazadas por gobiernos de izquierda y de derecha en una variedad de países como Bolivia, Brasil, El Salvador, México, Venezuela. En todos estos casos, el apoyo financiero siguió llegando, incluso de Wall Street.