Democratic transition in Guatemala: Toward a consolidated democracy or a failed state? (original) (raw)
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As the 1990s opened, the only country in Central America that could claim to hold periodic free and fair elections was Costa Rica. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all had held elections, but this inchoate "electoral politics" still fell considerably short of democratic politics. In general, there was little effective participation or broad-based representation and little political accountability between the elected officials and their supporters, and elected officials had limited power visA -vis a still-dominant military and, in some cases, a still-powerful oligarchy. After colonial times in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras powerful, entrenched classes led by landed interests (but also including commercial and financial elites) and powerful military institutions opposed, often brutally, groups that sought to create democratic political institutions. Following World War II, however, the defense of the existing land tenure system, of related economic interests, and of military power and privilege became more difficult, as important We would like to thank Elisabeth Escalante for her comments and assistance. We also want to thank Rodrigo Carazo, William M. LeoGrande, and the other members of the conference for their comments.