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Latin A merican Democracy. What to Do with the Leaders?
Author(s) -
TEDESCO LAURA,
DIAMINT RUT
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
bulletin of latin american research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.24
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1470-9856
pISSN - 0261-3050
DOI - 10.1111/blar.12070
Subject(s) - clientelism , presidential system , populism , democracy , politics , political economy , latin americans , government (linguistics) , political science , civil society , presidential election , public administration , sociology , law , linguistics , philosophy
The democratic deficit, or the gap between citizens' aspirations and their level of satisfaction, is increasing in L atin A merica. Such dissatisfaction helps to understand many of the region's presidential crises: since 1985, 23 L atin A merican presidents have left government abruptly. While civil society may have been able to provoke the fall of presidents, it has not managed to avoid the re‐emergence of deep‐rooted political practices under subsequent administrations. Extreme presidentialism, clientelism and populism have re‐emerged strengthened after deep political crises. This article offers some ideas regarding the impact that different types of political leaders can have on how well democracy works.