Multidisciplinary Latin America Panel: “The End of Democracy? Latin American Perspectives on a Global Crisis”
In April, the BA IS Latin America section hosted a thought-provoking panel on the mounting challenges to democracy in the region. International Studies teacher Juliët Tinebra provides a concise recap of the event and its key takeaways.
On April 24th, the BAIS Latin America section hosted a multidisciplinary panel titled “The End of Democracy? Latin American Perspectives on a Global Crisis.” During the event, lecturers from the Latin America courses joined forces to explore the topics of populism, autocracy and democratic backsliding from different disciplinary perspectives.
Democracy in Latin America is increasingly under pressure. From weakened checks and balances to the personalization of power, the region has seen the rise of both left- and right-wing leaders with increasingly authoritarian tendencies. Think of El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, who proudly wore the self-proclaimed title of “the world’s coolest dictator”. Or, on the left side of the political spectrum, Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who used his daily press conferences to criticize the media and political opponents. These Latin American cases are part of a global trend of democratic erosion; this panel therefore examined these global developments from Latin American perspectives.
The afternoon began with Professor Emeritus Patricio Silva, who offered a historical and political analysis of democratic decline and the return of authoritarian governance. Dr. María Gabriela Palacio Ludeña followed with an exploration of inequality, patterns of political exclusion, and the legacies of neoliberal policies. Finally, Dr. Sara Brandellero provided a cultural perspective, looking at how media and the arts influence public perceptions of democracy and leadership.
Following the presentations, the questions from the audience sparked a lively discussion on the roles of gender and religion, the power of populist discourse, and what these regional dynamics can teach us about the current global trends. The afternoon was closed with some drinks, allowing students and lecturers to continue the discussion on these important topics.
A big thank you to the panel members for their contributions and the audience for their insightful questions. The Latin America department looks forward to next year’s events!
Panel members: Prof. em. Patricio Silva, dr María Gabriela Palacio Ludeña, dr Sara Brandellero.
Moderated by Maaik Gankema and Juliët Tinebra.
Thank you to Anna Astudillo for the photos and Arina Moskvina for organizational support.
