Blog Post#3: Consolidation of democracy in Latin America, Case study of Peru
Democracy has become a major political system in contemporary world. Nations which survived the cause of transition from authoritarianism to democracy still continue to struggle with consolidating democracy. Because authoritarian tendencies continue to influence their political decisions, actions and institutions. Democracy is therefore said to be consolidated when democracy becomes the only game in town. That is, when no individual (irrespective of their political status) acts outside democratic institutions of the state. Democratic tenets should be uphold to the fullest. Political parties play significant role in consolidating democracy in Peru, Latin America and the rest of the world.
In modern democratic states, political parties demonstrate endless role in consolidating democracy. As puts by Levitsky S, et’l (2003), politicians are selfish and shortsighted by their human nature. Therefore, if they are left to operate according to their own accord will eventually seek to promote their own interest and offer little or no incentive to others or the next elections. Political parties make candidates accountable to the people. They check the conducts of their candidates and guide them to rule in the manner that will lead the party to enhancing victory on the next elections. Candidate which behave otherwise are often denied party’s flag bearer position. For instance, many candidates in the Sierra Leone Peoples Party loss their seats in parliament because were not proven to work well in their first term of office. Parties on the other hand enhance collective actions and they exit beyond single election. Candidates may come and go but the party as states continue exits. Therefore parties work to present candidates who work to defend and promote the integrity of the party by delivering public goods hence democracy at work.
Parties also serve as agents for political socialization, prepares individuals for political positions in the state. Levitsky S, et’l (2003), maintain that parties prepare office seekers into democratic politics. They also make the government responsible to the people. For example, through the elected legislature, political parties are to check the powers of the executive (Levistsky, S. et’l:2003). The opposition parties serve as watch dogs on the activities of the ruling government. They put government on their toes. When government is left to operate without the opposition parties democracy will be hardly successful because. When independent candidates lead the mantle of government consolidation of democracy will be at stake.
However, political parties in some cases are not proven accountable to the people. When they get into power, they seek to promote their own interest which is why the electorate lost confidence of in their parties as in the case of Peru. This is also common in other developing countries like Sierra Leone, when political parties only provide for their core members at the detriment of the general public. That was partly responsible for the loss of power by the SLPP in the 2007 and 2012 elections in Sierra Leone.
I therefore posit that even though neither political parties nor independent candidates can all by themselves consolidate democracy in the state. Democracy can also be consolidated by strengthening state institutions such as the police, military, civil society groups, electoral body, judiciary, and so on are . The United States is able to maintain democracy because state institutions are independents. The government cannot control or influence judiciary decision in their favor. That makes leaders accountable to the people and by doing so the people feel secured. When state institutions are strengthened and independents, parties and candidates will be responsible to the people. This will undoubtedly forester democracy and its consolidation.