Contemporary Latin America:Global Changes and Democratic Disenchantment

Abstract

This article argues that in contemporary Latin America the impact of different links from the international arena from neoliberalism and also from other aspects of globalization to domestic political issues over these past several decades has been contradictory. Some international influences have helped sustain electoral democracy and strengthened a normative expansion of citizenship within the region, while others have eroded advancement toward rule of law democracy and improved democratic quality, due to their socio-economic effects and their impact on political institutions.