Abstract

CHACIN FUENMAYOR, Ronald. The new Latin American authoritarianism: A challenge for democracy and human rights (analysis of the Venezuelan case). Estudios constitucionales [online]. 2019, vol.17, n.1, pp.15-52. ISSN 0718-5200.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-52002019000100015.

Democracy in several Latin American countries is in decline, specifically in those where, despite being democratically elected, rulers limit the civil and political rights of citizens and establish themselves unlimitedly in power, through indefinite re-election, as in the case of Venezuela, a process that is being replicated in Bolivia and Nicaragua. The work is proposed from a theoretical and political approach to this problem, focusing particularly on Venezuela, through three aspects: theoretical analysis of undemocratic regimes; revision of the contemporary democratic doctrines, which includes the constitutional democracy, and finally, the description of the authoritarian elements that characterize the Venezuela case. It is concluded that one of the main factors that explain the emergence of authoritarianism in Venezuela, is the appropriation of the Judiciary by the head of state, who places it at his service to institutionally authorize his arbitrariness, which injures the democratic form of government and the fundamental rights that it comprises.

Keywords : Authoritarianism; Latin America; Democracy; Human Rights.

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