David Crow speaks up for Latin American democracy:

"I strongly disagree with John Wonder's apparent suggestion that non-Western peoples are incapable or undeserving of democracy. While it is true that much of Latin America has been historically characterized by authoritarianism, this has co-existed with several enduring experiences of democracy (Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica), as well as long-held democratic aspirations --as evidenced precisely by periodic revolts against the oligarchies. While the political cultures of many countries still contain authoritarian holdovers, political culture is not static and the Latin American countries have a rich reservoir of experience and thought upon which to draw in constructing their democratic ethos.

I also do not believe that the term "democracy" is so devoid of theoretical and historical content that almost any government qualifies. While the term has clearly been abused, it is possible to distinguish democratic from non-democratic governments. Robert Dahl sets forth some reasonable criteria in "Democracy and its Critics", including free elections, universal adult suffrage, freedom of expression, right to and availability of alternative information, etc.

I wholeheartedly share Mr. Wonder's rejection of spreading U.S.-style democracy as a sort of modern "white man's burden". However, this does not lead me to conclude pessimistically that it is "absurd" to hope for democracy in Latin America. Rather, instead of copying the West, each country should arrive at the democratic formula, from the many available within the above criteria, that best fits its idiosyncracies and historical necessities."

Ronald Hilton - 03/31/99