Discussion Paper
The conclusions of the Conference for the Future of Europe show a strong commitment to the global support of democracy. Nevertheless, in the year that has passed since, the policy of the European Union toward the problem of democracy in Latin America continues to be erratic and ineffective in the fight against domestic and foreign illiberal influence. This discussion paper analyzes the challenges of democratic resilience in Latin America, assesses the EU’s response thereof, and issues recommendations for its governing bodies to improve the focus and quality of the aid that is already offered to the region’s struggling democratic governments and CSOs fighting autocratic regimes. As it becomes clear after the recent apparent turn in EU policy towards Latin America’s autocratic regimes, today it is impervious that democratic forces within the Union implement the necessary policies to restrain the spread of illiberalism in Latin America but also to not hesitate in the wake of a renewed call from domestic illiberal actors to soften the restrictions already in place.
Discussion paper contents:
- Introduction
- Illiberal Influence in Latin America
- Misunderstanding the Approach: How the EU Misjudges Latin America’s Illiberal Agents
- Recommendations for an Integral Plan on Latin American Democratic Resilience
This discussion paper is based on an expert presentation held as part of the Parliament for the Future of Europe in Prague in October 2023 project. The presenters and authors of this paper are Armando Chaguaceda and Max Povse.
Originally written in English, the document is also available in Spanish for Spanish-speaking audiences.
English version
Spanish version
