The stubborn survival of frustrated democrats

摘要

Abare majority of Latin Americans are convinced democrats, but they are deeply frustrated by the way their democratic institutions work in practice. Latin Americans are also becoming less pro-American. While most believe the market economy is the only route to prosperity, they are ever more disillusioned with some aspects of free-marketry, such as privatisation. Those are some of the conclusions from the latest Latinobarometro poll of attitudes in the region, published exclusively by The Economist. The poll covers 17 countries in Central and South America. Latinobarometro, a Chilean organisation, has conducted similar surveys each year since 1996, so the poll captures shifts in opinion both over time and between countries.