Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue describes in a recent article that two dictators have been the most influential in shaping political attitudes in Latin America in recent decades. These two dictators are Augusto Pinochet, who passed away at the age of 91 a couple of days ago, and Fidel Castro, who has recently undergone surgery and has left his brother in charge of the “Island.”
According to Mr. Shifter,
In Latin America today, the public wants the market-driven growth that draws on the Pinochet experience and the focus on social equality inspired by Castro — but in a democratic context, without the terror and autocratic rule that marked the two regimes.
It wants, in short, the best of both.
Recent figures from the opinion poll Latinobarómetro seem to support this notion that Latin Americans are rejecting dictatorial regimes and embracing democracy. According to the poll, 58% of respondents said that democracy was the best system of government as compared to 53% last year.
However, I must say that I am more skeptical about the progress of democracy in the region and what has been coined by some as a “democratic revival.” Democratic reforms are being rolled back in many countries. In Venezuela, for example, President Hugo Chavez has managed to transform a rather open political system to one where there are no longer checks on the power of the Executive Branch. In Argentina, the President has been able to take away power from the Legislative Branch by approving the use of “superpowers,” while in Bolivia the President has shown disregard for the rule of law and property rights by nationalizing hydrocarbons and moving towards land expropriations.
The surge of populist candidates and backsliding from democracy in the region is a clear signal of the lack of popular memory of the types of leaders and policies that ruined countries in the past. Unfortunately, it looks like we will have to deal with the legacy of the Pinochet’s and Castro’s for still some time to come.
Published Date: December 15, 2006