Democracy and the Current Situation of Latin America - Research Paper Example

Democracy and the Current Situation of Latin America Different definitions exist to describe the word “democracy.” It is explained in various senses. One of the most common explanations of the term is a system that recognizes the equality among its citizens (Diamond and Plattner, 2006). It is a system ruled by the power of its people. It is also considered as an institutional form that truly acknowledges the existence of its State together with its correct, suitable, and healthy functioning (O’Donnell and Schmitter, 1986). These definitions are just two among the many, but are representations of its broadest sense. Though no matter the word “democracy” is defined, it has no universal established definition. Different democratic countries all over the world have their own democracies in varying degrees. Despite the differences based on specific experiences of each nation, democracy is seen to be distinguished by mainly two characteristics. First is the equality among its people while the other is the freedom to what it is to be fully human. A very informative case of all the other aspect of democracy can be seen through Latin America with a special focus on countries namely Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba and Mexico. These countries meet the conditions of a democratic regime. However, continental regions of Latin America are confronting serious dilemmas brought by their current democracy which is lacking in quality. Berkman and Cavallo’s (2006) research has found out that democracy is one of the top 10 that challenges the regions of Latin America. Findings of the study show that democratic crises are due to politicians’ lack of liability and even the not enough implementation of rules, political power contributing to violence and intimidation, problems of representation, no existent split up of powers, and of course, the weak, inadequate, ineffectual culture of democracy. Present situation of Latin America is indeed, not of the usual democracy defined earlier. Moreover, the results presented by Berkman and Cavallo (2006) can be linked to the more specific dilemmas at the political, economic and social levels. Given the lack of effective political leaders that should govern and impose what it means to be democratic, the people of Latin America suffer from wide range problems, may it be individual or social. For the reason that Latin American nations have ineffective democratic governments, democracy comes closer to its negation. Instead of equality, it is inequality which shapes the said regions. Despite the unceasing conscious efforts of strengthening the political rights of the people, Latin America is extremely suffering from inequality as well as extreme poverty. The distinction between the rich and the poor becomes now clearly evident. This difference is even reinforced through different factors. Due to poverty, starvation is witnessed from the different regions. These regions lack the access and resources to the basic necessities. Not all are fortunate to have the right to education for it has been now a privilege among those who can afford to get themselves educated. With the lack of education comes along the hindrance to employment. All these further lead to increase of poverty level which then, contributes more to all the other problems faced by the Latin Americans. Since all these are related and connected like a spider web, less and less are having the lives they should have as promised by the democratic system. Each day is getting worse and worse for the failure of the State of functioning properly to its people. Freedom is no longer attainable. Freedom to what it is to be fully human is now only for those who have all the means and all the capital. People feel suppressed with all the absence of their rights. Those who have the guts to speak up for themselves, be heard, and be seen are only for those who belong to people with economic and social capital which are usually the rich and the politicians. Democracy is no longer represented by the entire people. In a study entitled “The European Union and Democracy in Latin America” by Youngs (2002), he claims that Latin America’s acknowledgment of other regions’ promotion of other programs sheds light on the different political movement. He further discusses that the political trends of Latin America like the advanced shift of Mexico towards Cuba’s absence of any concrete liberalization. The sudden transformation is shadowed by the worsening of democracy. He explains that the increase of corruption of those people governing the State has destabilized, damaged and emasculated the quality of democratic power. Such internal force of the dirty politics including serious corruption, in effect, has affected the current situation of Latin America. Democracy is just a term which is used to describe their form of government but the practice of the system is certainly absent. It is no longer a State which serves it people, but a State which serves for the interests of those in power. Because of the selfish acts done by the politicians due to interest on money, the citizens are the ones left to suffer. Instead of serving the people, the government is doing the dirty deed of owning what is for the people. With the increase of corruption, inequality is strengthened. Poverty is even more developed. Hunger is intensified. Education is failing. Unemployment is rising. This is the very truth which people do acknowledge. Yes, the system is democratic but just remains as lip service. The Latin American regions have democratic regimes which are negating what it means to be democratic. Freedom is not theirs but these people are definitely prisoned in the falsehood of its very own democracy. II. A Closer Look at Chile Angell (1993) wrote an article about Chile entitled “The Transition to Democracy in Chile: A Model or an Exceptional Case?” He explained that Chile has a government system that has successfully migrated to democracy. It is likely that its triumphant transition to a democratic nation is brought by the sustained policies of an authoritarian administration in nature, but is an effective one. This is indeed an opposition to what the other Latin American regions are experiencing. Chile is non-chaotic due to the harmony brought by its policies. The Chilean government has not developed and not formulated another system of democracy. It is just a plain re-establishment of their previous democratic system. What worked for them before is what they chose and applied to their country. Such democratic political system is based from Chile’s own experience. Chile has just gone back to the past and revived what was there. After the waves of authoritarianism, Chile has gone back to its past history of having stable democratic regime. At present, its democratic form of government is really a distinction for it stands out from that of the others in the continental Latin America who suffer from extreme poverty, hunger, and deprivation. In fact, the Chilean government can serve as an epitome of having one winning democracy. When the large set of Latin America is enduring all the forms of crises produced by democratic instability, Chile has stood out for having a model case of returning to democracy. Such successful return to democracy in Latin America has led its way to an economic stabilization. Chile is able to grow and develop unlike the other regions of Latin America which are deeply rooted from various dilemmas that are social, economic, and political in nature. Definitely, Chile has been exempted from the democratic crises being faced now by the Latin America (Angell, 1993). III. History of Latin America and Democracy Democracy in Latin America has its very own specific historical development whose context must be therefore, understood. According to Rangel (1977), Latin America, first coined in the 19th century, consists of regions which formerly, used to be considered colonies of Spain and Portugal, but is currently possessed and considered as nations of the America. These are regions owned by America but can speak the native language of the Spanish and Portuguese. The very own naming of the said regions speak its specific history. The 16th to 19th century accounts for the colonial administration of Spain in which one of the first colonies happened to be Mexico. The colonization continued to seize and control Chile. The presence of the Spaniards also had given its way to set up its government in Argentina. In addition to that, Cuba also had become a Spanish colony. On the one hand, Portuguese also had the interest of expanding its territory. To execute such imperial ambitions, they owned, took over and controlled Brazil. These are just among the 17 countries of Latin America which were once colonized by the Spaniards and Portuguese. These 5 countries namely Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba and Mexico made their way to independence with the support of America. By the time these nations already had their liberties from the colonizers, here came America make these countries fall in a trap of seeing America as a friendly hero. The people of the colonized Latin America saw America in such a way that it was there to support them with their struggle against the colonizers. It was such a successful attempt for the Americans to control these regions without stating their obvious intention. Just like the Spaniards and Portuguese, the intension of the Americans of landing to Latin America was just the same. The 20th century marked up the involvement of America in the administration among the continental Latin America. As an outcome of such intervention, America has just proven to itself its powerful authority via the setting up unfair relationships at the economic, social and political levels. Not long enough, Latin America made its route going back to democracy. Though, these democratic systems were not built around their own historical experiences but formulated in the histories of the European and American nations. The democracy in Latin America is just accepted with accordance to the assumption that State’s authority envelops that of the whole territory including the colonies. IV. Factors Affecting the Democracy Now that Latin America is situated in its particular historical context, other elements of the democratic situation of the said continental region will be further discussed. This section aims at further explaining what contributes to the predicament of democracy in Latin America. Without a doubt, one of the most obvious factors affecting the democratic crises that are now being faced by Latin America is political corruption (Canache & Allison, 2005). In the article, Canache & Allison (2005) claimed that political corruption is one critical problem which causes a really grave danger to various democratic nations. Due to selfish intensions of advancement, the person who is supposed to be serving its people is the one wrecking the democratic system. With the politician’s manipulation of power in order to further gain from the government for one’s private interest, democracy is negated. With this abuse of power eradicates the equality between the people and its government. What are left to the citizens are crises of democracy. It is further discussed that relatively, Latin Americans have awareness on the existence of corruption in their governments. Issues of mistrust are extended. The disparity among the people is heightened as brought by the State that must be attending the needs of its people. Political corruption is a misrepresentation of the public demand (Della Porta, 2002). This is for the reason that what citizens are expecting from them are forms of service that will aid the people. Unfortunately, stealing of the government funds is what people are receiving in return. For Della Porta (2002), the misuse of power for one’s advantage for private interest also leads to the expensive charges of public works. But despite the upsurge of its cost, public works are delayed. More than that, it lacks the quality. Corruption also is the reason for the lack of productivity. This is mainly because facilities are set to be delayed without bribery. What has happened to the democratic Latin America? Corruption then now creates its people the lack to their rights. Only few individuals are privileged to have education. It is no longer provided by the country for the State now does not allocate funds for educational system. Priority is not its public but the self-interest. Like what is stated earlier on this paper, all leads to different serious setbacks like hunger, unemployment, and so on and so forth. Canache and Allison (2005) have characterized the Latin government to be plagued by different scandalous issues regarding corruption in the 1990s. As a historical account of Brazil on corruption, its President Fernando Collor de Mello was coerced to give up its power and position. His involvement to various scandals like the redirection of public funds by his wife made him quit his administration by force. Also in Mexico, a former president was even included in a shameful issue. Carlos Salinas de Gortari, the former president, had his reputation ruined by the deeds of his brother, Raul. The president’s brother is charged of killing a rival in politics. Raul was even accused of thieving more than the big amount of $100 million. Indeed, the institution itself that should be responsible for promulgation of equality and freedom is untrusted leader. Where will democracy start in these countries with the kind of existing government they have? It is a suitable to note that United States of America and the European Union should not just be simply ignored in situating why Latin America has this one of a kind democratic regime. Youngs (2002) said that the democracy of Latin America is fuelled by the America and European Unions. Also, it is important to note that both of them have played their very own major roles how Latin American regions obtain their democratic forms of government. Now, it is the case that they have contributed such a big involvement on the promotion of democratic policies in Latin America. This is for the reason that they have perceived the continental Latin American geared with an approach of establishing a civil society. Youngs (2002) did an endeavour to trace the commitment of the European Union to Latin America’s democracy. He touched the significant commitment to prioritizing the campaign of democracy. He linked the dimensions of politics and economics in extending the democracy. It is the case that the connection of the policies’ political and economic aspects is conveyed via a belief that the complete attachment of Latin American economies into global economy would direct to a more stable democratic region. The thought of the extension of market structures is approving to the democratic rights. Dependency is present. The third world region of Latin America is now depending on European Union for development. The façade may be all because of democracy, but it is not really a good outcome in the long run. There is always this existing sense of interest to take advantage. It will cause the regions of Latin America pain due to adjustments with the economy. V. Conclusion Indeed, there are various definitions which exist to explain the term “democracy.” However, democracy, as of its broadest sense, is characterized by two very significant elements such as equality and freedom. As the term has been conceptualized earlier, it is a form of administrative system that intends to completely serve its citizen. The State must function to its optimum in order to provide the people their rights as a free man. Democracy in Latin America is something situated in the specific historical origins. History has witnessed the transition of events on how Latin America ended up having democratic political systems which are mostly lacking its quality. Long ago, the regions of Latin America were once possessed by the colonizers from Spain and Portugal. Then United States came in the picture and offered some help to the Latin Americans. However, it was a help at its frontage for the reason that Americans have also the interest to these nations. Then, here came the return of democracy in the picture. Latin American regions like Cuba, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina have embraced democracy which is situated not at each experience but around the historical experience of the powerful countries that possessed them. On the one hand, the experience of Chile is set aside from these democratic dilemmas for its story is an exceptional case. The citizens of the continental Latin America have suffered from the serious setbacks of an unsuccessful democratic government. Not successful democracy means inequality, poverty, hunger, unemployment, limit to education, and so on. Certainly, these features of low quality democracy are experienced by the most of the people in Latin America. People are deprived from their rights. Freedom is not totally enjoyable to what it is to be fully human. This is experienced by the public due to the external and internal factors. In addition to that, the dirty deed of the State, political corruption, is definitely identified by the Latin Americans to cause the failure of democracy. Individuals who are governing the State are manipulating their power in order to obtain the public’s funds for his/her own interest. The problem arises when the connection between the State and its citizens begins to vanish. This is how democracy has become all over the years. On the other hand, the distinct condition of Chile from the rest of the Latin American regions says a very important matter. In order to have a successful and effective democracy, there is no need of new formulation of democracy which is anchored on other country’s history. This is Chile’s difference from the rest of the countries like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Cuba for the reason that Chilean democracy is situated in its very own particular experience. The rules imposed are something based from its particular history. This, in effect, strengthens democratic political system in Chile for no other intentions are to be imposed by the Chilean government to serve the other country. There is no such thing as universal democracy. Forces like the presence of America and Europe has therefore, executed a change on the political affairs through formulating laws that in the long run, will benefit them. Democracy seems just a term or rather, a frontage, in order to execute all the advancement planned by America and Europe. Moreover, their present support to Latin America is something they have devised during the years they contributed internally in the formulation of laws. The process promotes weakening of democracy. The citizens of Latin America are just distancing themselves one step back from the real democracy. They are just coming closer to the negation of democracy as the inequality will be strengthened once more. References: Angell, A. (1993). The transition to democracy in Chile: a model or an exceptional case? Parliamentary affairs 46(4), 563-578. Berkman, H. & Cavallo, E. (2006). The challenges in Latin America: identifying what latin Americans believe to be the main problems facing their countries. Washington, D.C.: Interamerican Development Bank. Canache, D. & Allison, M. (2005). Perception of political corruption in the Latin American democracies. Latin American politics and society 47(3), 91-111. Della Porta, D. (2000). Social capital, beliefs in government, and political corruption. In S. Pharr & R. Putnam (Ed.), Dissatisfied democracies: what troubling the trilateral countries (pp. 202 – 228). Princeton: Princeton University Press. Diamond, L. & Plattner, M. (2006). Electoral systems and democracy. Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. O’Donnell, G. & Schmitter, P. (1986). Transitions from the authoritarian rule: tentative conclusions about uncertain democracies. Maryland: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Rangel, C. (1977). The Latin Americans: their love-hate relationship with the United States. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. Youngs, R. (2002). The European union and democracy in Latin America. Latin America politics and society, 44(3), 111-139. Read More