Learning from Global Democratic Challenges and Innovations Mini-Conference III: Democracy, Dictatorship, and Democratic Backsliding in Central America

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Part of Mini-Conference

• Learning from Global Democratic Challenges and Innovations Mini-Conference III

Session Description

In the wake of military dictatorships and civil wars, the Central American countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua transitioned to democracy. For a brief moment, it seemed like democracy would flourish: rivals, including those on opposite sides of armed conflict, embraced elections as the only legitimate way to govern, and competitive elections ushered in an unprecedented era of peaceful power alternations. But despite these noteworthy advances, beginning in the early 2000s, democracy stagnated, and autocracy made a comeback. Electoral democracies have reversed to a full dictatorship (Nicaragua), are in the process of being replaced by competitive authoritarianism (El Salvador), or remain on a tightrope after recent elections (Honduras and Guatemala). This panel, which examines the region through case studies and cross-country comparisons, seeks to answer the following questions: Why has democracy proven fragile and authoritarianism resilient in Central America? What tactics and strategies have incumbents used in their varying power-grabbing efforts? How have opposition blocs responded to those threats, and what are the prospects for future democratization in the region? And what lessons can we draw from Central America’s troubled record with democracy and authoritarianism?

Sub Unit

• Theme Panel

Cosponsor

• Division 12: Comparative Politics of Developing Countries

Individual Presentations

• Anti-corruption Crusades and Democratic Erosion: Evidence from Guatemala - Rachel A. Schwartz, University of Oklahoma

• Authoritarian Personalism, Parties, and Democratic Erosion in Central America - Kai Massey Thaler, University of California, Santa Barbara

• Human Rights Violations and Citizen Support for Accountability in Guatemala - Joséphine Lechartre, Tulane University; Regina A. Bateson, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Disrupting Institutionalized Party Systems: Evidence from Central America - Lucas Perelló, Florida Atlantic University

• Criminal Electioneering & Democracy in Central America: Evidence from Guatemala - Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez, Harvard University

Chair

• Patricio D. Navia Universidad Diego Portales

Discussants

• Christine J. Wade Washington College

• Deborah Yashar Princeton University