On the concept of countries in the process of democratic consolidation in Latin America

Abstract

This article studies the situation of Latin American political systems based on the concept of "countries in the process of democratic consolidation", tracing the historical roots of their "democratic deficits and analyzing the prerequisites for the establishment of true polyarchies. recent theoretical literature and using a comparative approach, the author clearly differentiates the specific features of the transition and democratic consolidation, and concludes that, at present, the legacy of the transition, the institutional inefficiency and the oscillating credibility regarding the virtues of democracy contribute negative effects to the consolidation of the political system of most Latin American countries.