Latin America's Undemocratic Democracy
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In the US, it sometimes feels like democracy isn’t democracy due to the country’s mass voter suppression, gerrymandering, and corruption. However, compared to Latin America, the US is a saint, the model for everything right in the world.
During the late 1900s, Latin America experienced the mass spread of democracy. However, as time passed, it seems the word “democracy” was simply a farce to hide behind and appease the world. People might get to vote, but it’s not a real vote. It would be like if everyone were allowed to vote in the US, but our choices were between Kanye West and Addison Rae.
Similarly, around Latin American countries, it’s a democracy with no choice, a system where the politicians that the public wants are often banned from running. So far, it’s been happening in Argentina, Venezuela, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia; it’s merely a tool for those in power to cement their tenuous positions, and, unfortunately, it results in the candidate the public prefers getting banned.
Corrupt governments and their dictator-like grip on power are continuing to hold Latin America back. It was these so-called “democratic” regimes that previously brought their countries to their knees; for example, Chávez and Maduro’s governments sent Venezuela into a semi-permanent state of oil-dependence and economic crisis. However, by clinging to power, they ensure that these problems will continue. It becomes impossible for the change to happen when the potential leaders capable of bringing about the change can’t run.
Latin American leaders are slowly starting to resemble Putin with his foolproof election strategy — eliminate the opposition.
Change doesn’t happen when the leader never changes. In that case, the country starts working for the leader instead of the leader working for the country.
Where exactly is Latin America supposed to go from here? There are only two real solutions to solving this state of democracy turned dictatorship. Foreign governments can intervene and force a leadership change, which the US has been trying to do with sanctions, but this path will create massive collateral damage. The only other option is a mass protest against the election rigging, but even this is difficult when the leaders control the population’s access to resources. It’s an uphill battle, but pressure is needed to force Latin American countries to adhere to democratic ideals.
