América Latinala política inconclusa

  1. Alcántara Sáez, Manuel
Journal:
Sistema: revista de ciencias sociales

ISSN: 0210-0223

Year of publication: 2009

Issue Title: La política de América Latina

Issue: 208-209

Pages: 5-24

Type: Article

More publications in: Sistema: revista de ciencias sociales

Abstract

In Latin America, politics is conducted via democratic channels base don electoral competition. These channels have been well established over almost three decades in many of the region�s countries, a situation that is completely unprecedented in historical terms. However, politics is facing up to certain unfinished tasks that could endanger poliarchy itself due to problems with citizenship. In this sense, the article considers the following situations brought about by the existing tensions in current Latin American politics: the process by which the institutions of representative democracy and the Rule of Law are discredited; the effects of presidential power and populism; the inefficiency of policy in reducing inequalities; and the persistence of ethnic and regional conflicts.