Gobernabilidad democrática a comienzos del siglo XXI: una perspectiva latinoamericana

Abstract

CURRENT POLITICAL REALITY IN LATIN AMERICA IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE CO-EXISTENCE OF DEMOCRATIC REGIMES WITH A SERIES OF DEEPLY WORRYING POLITICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS: UNBRIDLED CORRUPTION, WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE AND APPALLING LEVELS OF POVERTY AND INEQUALITY. TAKING THIS CHARACTERIZATION AS THE POINT OF DEPARTURE AND AVOIDING THE COMMON TELEOLOGICAL VISION THAT SEES THESE COUNTRIES FOLLOWING THE PATH OF DEMOCRACIES IN WESTERN EUROPE, THE FUTURE SCENARIOS FACED BY LATIN AMERICA ARE DISCUSSED. IN ADDITION, FOCUSING ON ONE OF THESE SCENARIOS, BASED ON A RE-ASSESSMENT OF POLITICS, AN OUTLINE IS PROVIDED OF THE ELEMENTS OF A NEW POLITICAL AGENDA THAT WILL ENABLE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE TO BE RE-ESTABLISHED ON THE BASIS OF PRACTICES THAT ARE MORE C