Latin America

There was little change in this region between 2010 and 2011. The average score for the region declined

slightly in 2011 as rampant crime in some countries—in particular, violence and drug-trafficking—

continues to have a negative impact.

In most countries free and fair elections are now well established. The recent evidence from surveys

on attitudes towards democracy is mixed. In some countries, surveys indicate a slow shift in public

attitudes on many issues in a direction that is conducive to democracy. However, a recent UNDP report

(UNDP 2011) found that the sustainability of democracy in Latin America is being endangered by the

concentration of power, the world´s highest social and economic inequalities, and mounting insecurity

and violence.

Democracy Index 2011

Democracy under stress

25 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2011

TM

While most Latin American countries (14 out of 24) fall within the flawed democracy category, there

is wide diversity across the region. For example, Uruguay is a full democracy with an index score of 8.17

(out of 10) and a global ranking of 17th, while Cuba, an authoritarian regime, ranks 126th.

Although the region was adversely affected by the 2008-09 recession—with the US-dependent

Central American and Caribbean subregions hit particularly badly—most countries avoided social

unrest and a rolling back of democracy. However, a key issue that is undermining democracy in much

of the region is an upsurge in violent crime, linked in large part with the drug trade. The corrupting

influence of organised crime and its ability to undermine the effectiveness of the security forces and

the judicial authorities are a serious problem.

Electoral democracy, for the most part, remains firmly entrenched in Latin America, but media

freedoms have been eroded in recent years in several countries. Aside from Cuba (the only state in the

region without any independent media), Venezuela has been the worst offender. The failure to uphold

press freedom in some countries in the region in part reflects inadequate oversight bodies—a symptom

of broader institutional weaknesses in Latin America. The executive remains very strong in many

countries, the legislature is comparatively weak in many cases and most judiciaries suffer from some

degree of politicisation.

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