This panel examines the growing tensions surrounding democracy in Latin America amid persistent social inequalities, increasing political polarization, and the expansion of new right-wing forces. While democratic institutions have become firmly established across much of the region, significant inequalities in political representation, economic resources, and access to decision-making continue to shape citizens’ experiences of democracy. At the same time, political polarization and the emergence of new right-wing movements have challenged established political alignments and transformed the region’s democratic landscape.
The panel brings together studies that investigate how inequality and political conflict interact with contemporary processes of democratic transformation. Particular attention is given to the relationship between socioeconomic inequalities and political participation, the changing strategies of right-wing parties and movements, the role of social media and political communication in intensifying polarization, and the ways in which citizens respond to perceived failures of democratic institutions.
By adopting a comparative Latin American perspective, the panel seeks to move beyond country-specific explanations and identify broader regional patterns, while also recognizing the diversity of political trajectories across Latin America. Contributions may address electoral politics, political parties, social movements, democratic institutions, political representation, political participation, and the changing relationship between citizens and the state.
The central question guiding the panel is whether contemporary political polarization and the rise of new right-wing actors represent a fundamental transformation of Latin American democracy or a response to longstanding forms of political and socioeconomic exclusion. Bringing together different theoretical approaches and empirical cases, the panel aims to foster dialogue on the changing boundaries of democratic inclusion, representation, and political contestation in the region.
