In recent decades, we have observed a perverse trend: we vote in free elections for leaders who undermine democracy. The threat does not come from military coups. It is democrats who erode democracy.
Hugo Chávez did it since 1998. In Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, before the 2021 presidential elections, imprisoned, disabled or forced into exile 19 pre-candidates for the presidency. Pedro Castillo in Peru in 2022 tried to dissolve Congress. In Argentina, the democratic deterioration is perceived in the politicization of Justice and its inability to resolve cases such as the AMIA bombing, the disappearance in democracy of Jorge Julio López or the death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman.
Political scientists try to find the reasons why authoritarianism is legitimized in democracies. Different causes are analyzed: China and Russia promote authoritarian leaders; the political polarization that hinders dialogue or the loss of legitimacy of democracy for not guaranteeing economic growth.
China or Russia do not care regarding the political system of their partners. It is more important to analyze internal processes. Polarization deteriorates dialogue and respect for dissent. But we citizens are polarized because politicians divide us.
Another reason to legitimize the deterioration of democracy is economic crises. Leaders present themselves as capable of improving the situation through the concentration of power. Thus, they dismantle democracy and do so with the support of many citizens. They usurp the power of other institutions -Legislative or Judicial Power- and empty them of content.
Some leaders justify this dismantling to end poverty. The year 2022 ended, in Latin America, with 201 million citizens living in poverty, of which 82 million are in extreme poverty. These citizens make it a priority to satisfy their basic needs and some become victims of the promises of Daniel Ortega or Nayib Bukele.
In 1983, Raúl Alfonsín repeated “with democracy you eat, you heal, you educate.” Years later he said: “with democracy you can eat, heal and educate, but miracles are not done.” We learned that democracy does not necessarily bring economic growth, or justice in the distribution of income, or improvements in public health or education. Democracy does not guarantee equal opportunities, but without democracy you cannot eat, you cannot heal, you do not educate, you do not speak, you do not think.
Who should control politicians to prevent them from dismantling democracy? The answer, I think, is in the citizens. Paradoxically, those who live in dictatorships want to be citizens and, many times, those of us who live in democracies do not exercise our citizenship.
How can we exercise our role as citizens? Let’s think regarding what we do when we get sick: within the possibilities that we have, we are going to look for the best doctor. If we know that there is a doctor on whom doubts fall, we will look for another professional prioritizing our health. When we get sick, we try to understand what is happening to us, we learn regarding the treatments, the remedies we take and the future that awaits us.
When we vote, we are electing those who take care of our economy, the education of our children, the health of the family. We must know who we vote for. Being a citizen is a duty that does not begin and end with the vote. We must be informed, participate in civil society associations, vote, monitor the actions of local and national governments and ensure that the corrupt do not participate in elections once more.
An English neurosurgeon, Henry Marsh, wrote a book called Do no harm. This phrase is part of the Hippocratic oath of doctors. Perhaps we should ask Democrats to take a similar oath: don’t steal state resources, be honest, don’t stay in power forever, don’t close your eyes or ears to criticism, only promise what you can deliver, strengthen state institutions Don’t polarize the speech. Above all, do no harm.
*Professor at Saint Louis University / Madrid Campus.
Network of Political Scientists – #NoSinMujeres.
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