Dieter Nohlen: Democracy Without Trust: a Challenge for Latin American Civil Society
This deserves far greater recognition, bearing in mind the sharp social inequalities in the region.However, consolidation of democracy has not been achieved.
One indicator of the state of democracy in Latin America is the subjective views and value systems of the people. Analysis of public opinion data sheds light on the political-cultural deficits relevant to the consolidation problem in particular.
In recent years, public support for democracy and trust in its institutions has been decreasing continuously, as Latin American surveys show. A large proportion of Latin Americans are not content with the way democracy is functioning. Also, social capital, understood as trust in the generalized Other, is much lower than in Europe. However, social capital in a "Bourdieuian" sense - that is, individual capital based on group membership, networks and friendships - is fairly well developed, generating a political culture of nepotism, courtesy, and ever present corruption. These trends have not led to the dissolution of democracy as a political system but have fostered the rise of autocratic and populist political leaders.
At the root of a political culture which circumnavigates the institutions of representative democracy lies the danger of an authoritarian populism in democratic disguise.
Modernisation in Latin America thus shows an ambivalent face: while the political and economic transitions have been achieved (even if the results are controversial), the aim of modernizing the relationship between state and society has obviously been missed.
Here, the political role of a civil society is crucial in Latin America. Its stand in relation to representative democracy will be decisive for democratic consolidation. Historical experience with oppressive governments means that the Latin American civil society has always rightly demanded more transparency, control, and accountability from its administrations. In some parts of civil society, however, we also find a continuing deep mistrust of political institutions and parties crisis.
Segments of civil society seem to have turned away from the democratic state which they helped to bring forth.
However, a strategy which builds on the weaknesses of democracy is ultimately doomed to fail. Only functioning democratic institutions will be able to represent pluralistic interests equally and democratically and ensure that an active and influential civil society can flourish.
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