23
Declining State of Democratic Institutions and the Implications for Governance
As we have seen in the ALBA countries, democratic governance is the
only mechanism by which to challenge the increasingly authoritarian
rule of the nouveau
caudillos
as people vote for local level leaders who
are able to reduce violence and solve some of the myriad of problems
that exist in their communities.
As these votes in favor of strong technocratic governments add up, they
are eventually able to challenge the ALBA
caudillos
not only on rhetoric
and debate but by the merit of their work as displayed through their
responsiveness in municipal governance. This is the case, for example,
of opposition leaders in Venezuelan municipalities such as Chacao and
Baruta in greater Caracas, as well as from some regional governors such
as in Lara state.
This is also the case in non-ALBA countries such as Colombia, Peru and
Mexico where the mayors of the respective capital cities have launched
bids to national level leadership based upon platforms of successful
local governance.
Over the past several decades, there have been enough local initiatives
that a pattern of best practices has started to emerge. There are
inexpensive and effective initiatives and activities that local governments
can carry out which go a long way in building trust among constituents,
combat corruption, and demonstrate an alternative to populist
authoritarianism. I have chosen as examples initiatives that are focused
on what Latinobarometer found are the greatest concerns of citizens in
their 2010 survey: Corruption, insecurity and unemployment.
Corruption/Transparency
Silence and secrecy breeds mistrust, which is the death knell of
democracy. A citizenry who are informed and well versed in the
activities of their local municipal government has the ability to discern
whether their local elected leaders are carrying out the tasks they
were designated to achieve through their election to office. As their
confidence increases, the citizens will take an increasingly active role in
