How “Centralism” Is Undermining Democracy in Latin America
Power in several countries is shifting away from mayors and governors, even though they are closest to many day-to-day issues.
Most analyses of Latin America revolve around national politics and macroeconomic performance, focusing on presidents, elections, headline news and growth figures. This emphasis is understandable. But it ignores a crucial reality. Many of the region’s most pressing challenges are unfolding at the subnational level, where local authorities are confronting citizens’ demands on a daily basis—often in open conflict with central governments. A comparative study I recently coordinated for the European Commission on decentralization and territorial development in Latin America and the...
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