Title: The State of Democracy in Latin America
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The State of Democracy in Latin America
Youth and Democracy
End of an era: opportunities and challenges
A new debate: the quality of democracy
My opinion
Daniel Zovatto
Former Brookings Expert
Director for Latin America and the Caribbean - International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

Content: The main unresolved issues are institutional problems that affect governability and the rule of law, independence and interconnection between state powers, hyper-presidentialism and reelection, corruption, constraints to freedom of expression, poor performance of electoral and political systems, lack of gender equality, and citizen insecurity, all factors that undermine its functioning. These factors explain why 56 percent of citizens support democracy but only 39 percent are satisfied with its performance (Latinobarómetro, 2013, a regional average). “ The dissatisfaction with progress” summarizes well the particular feeling that prevails in Latin America. In spite of the progress obtained, Latin Americans are dissatisfied with the current situation and demand more of their democracies, institutions and governments. There is an increasing demand for more transparency, better leadership and efficient public policies. As we can see there are reasons to be moderately optimistic but not complacent. A new debate: the quality of democracy
In a Latin American context of weak economic growth (according to the IMF the region will grow below 2 percent) and intense electoral marathons, governments will have to face citizen expectations and demands in conditions of greater austerity. As Augusto de la Torre, Chief Economist of the World Bank for Latin America points out: “ the golden decade, in which the region grew at an average of 5-6 percent per year with decreasing inequality, is over.