by PublicABCP
Translated and reviewed by Matheus Lucas Hebling
The book “La crisis de la democracia en América Latina” brings together a series of analyses exploring the multiple dimensions of the ongoing democratic crisis in the region. With contributions from sixteen authors across eight countries, the volume offers a critical perspective on the challenges currently facing Latin American democracies.
The collection is edited by Danilo Enrico Martuscelli, lecturer at the Institute of Social Sciences at the Federal University of Uberlândia (Incis/UFU), and Andrés Tzeiman of the University of Buenos Aires.
Divided into three sections, the book aims to reflect on the democratic crisis through three central lenses: the discontinuity of global hegemony, the conservative backlash against progressive governments in the early 21st century, and the growing contradiction between neoliberalism and democracy. Each section addresses these themes from distinct angles, combining political theory with country-specific case studies from Brazil, Argentina, and Peru.
The first part of the book engages with theoretical concepts such as hybrid regimes and neogolpismo (new forms of coups), and discusses the relationship between neoliberalism and family values. The second part examines recent political conflicts in countries including Peru, Brazil, and Argentina, alongside the role of the military in the politics of Brazil and Bolivia. The final section focuses on the rise of the far-right in Latin America, with case studies from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Ecuador, and draws comparisons with new right-wing movements in Europe.
One of the key insights of the book is its analysis of the global economic crisis of 2008, which accelerated the adoption of authoritarian neoliberal policies in several Latin American countries. This period was marked by reforms aimed at rolling back social rights and opening up economies to foreign capital, ultimately weakening democratic institutions and giving rise to conservative and far-right movements.
The book also addresses the phenomenon of neogolpismo, which involves new forms of institutional disruption—such as the use of judicial mechanisms to target progressive political leaders.
By linking global trends with the specific contexts of Latin American countries, the authors highlight the interconnectedness of neoliberalism and democratic decline. The volume offers a detailed analysis of the challenges these processes pose for the region, from the erosion of social rights to the emergence of conservative and authoritarian movements.
In doing so, the collection contributes to the debate on strategies and possible paths to strengthen democratic institutions in a global context marked by uncertainty and polarisation.
About the Editors
Danilo Enrico Martuscelli is a lecturer in Political Science at the Institute of Social Sciences (INCIS) at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) and teaches in the university’s Graduate Programme in Social Sciences. He is the author of Crises políticas e capitalismo neoliberal no Brasil (CRV, 2015) and Classes dominantes, política e capitalismo contemporâneo (Em Debate/UFSC, 2018).
Andrés Tzeiman holds a degree in Political Science and teaches at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). He is a PhD fellow at Argentina’s National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (Conicet) and a researcher at the Department of Political Studies at the Floreal Gorini Centre for Cooperation and Cultural Studies.
Publication Details
Title: La crisis de la democracia en América Latina
Editors: Danilo Enrico Martuscelli and Andrés Tzeiman
Publisher: CLACSO – Latin American Council of Social Sciences
Year of Publication: 2024
ISBN: 978-987-813-704-9
Available for download at: Biblioteca CLACSO
