Political Resilience: Democracy, Backsliding Democracies, and New Authoritarianisms

Global democracy indices are on decline, particularly in Latin America, where new authoritarian governments have emerged. This trend demands a thorough analysis to understand the dynamics and explore ways to restore democracy. Hence, my research project, titled “Political resilience: democracy, backsliding democracies and new authoritarianisms” aims to investigate the tools available to political actors to resist authoritarian threats and overcome new authoritarian regimes. Numerous scholars have studied democratic erosion and authoritarian outcomes, forming the foundation for this research. By providing policy recommendations and scenarios, the project aligns with the Kellogg Institute's strategic plan to advance research, policy, and practice related to democracy. It will also contribute with the University Strategic Framework and the Democracy Initiative. Utilizing deep interviews and a historical-empirical comparison method, the study will analyze the evolution of democracy in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.