HONDURAS

• Threats to economic and physical security have become persistent and pervasive across Latin America and the Caribbean – and that is affecting the way people view the state of democracy in the region.
• The 2023 round of AmericasBarometer, which includes nationally representative surveys of 39,074 individuals across 24 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, reveals widespread pessimism and adversity, decreased satisfaction with the status quo, and yet also resilience in popular support for democracy.

Elevated economic and physical insecurity

• In brief, despite variation among different countries, the average resident of the region has been facing elevated economic and physical security challenges for over a decade, our surveys have found.
• In the mid-2010s, a global economic commodity boom ended, and the region’s economic recovery has been thwarted by structural issues, including low productivity and high income inequality.
• The uptick in crime and insecurity is similarly driven by a range of factors, including economic crises and the growth of well-armed transnational criminal syndicates.

Disillusionment is a challenge to democracy

• Our results show that disillusionment with the democratic status quo is strikingly high in the region, with only 40% thinking democracy is working.
• Although the root causes are debated, disillusionment with the status quo fuels support for populist leaders with autocratic tendencies.
• El Salvador stands as an example of how disillusionment can undermine democracy.
• He cheekily referred to himself on social media as a “dictator”, while his running mate spoke of their program to eliminate democracy.

Democracy retains popular support

• Despite general gloom about how well democracy is performing, there is reason for optimism: Support for democratic governance has largely held steady over the last decade of our survey.
• Across the region, on average, 58% say that they believe democracy is the best form of government.
• In all but three countries – Guatemala, Honduras and Suriname – majorities say they prefer democracy.
• For now, at least, an enduring belief in democracy may facilitate efforts by leaders in and outside the region to champion and strengthen democratic governance.

• The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or any other funding agency.
• Elizabeth J. Zechmeister co-directs the AmericasBarometer, which has been supported by grants from USAID, the US National Science Foundation, and the Inter-American Development Bank.