Democratic Consolidation A visible example of this shortsightedness is the tendency of U.S. policymakers to equate elections with democracy.
Elections are, of course, a necessary and important component of democratic systems.
But elections alone do not ensure that citizens have effective input and influence over important decisions and policies that affect their lives. In many Latin American countries, authoritarian traditions, corrupt and elite-dominated political parties, and nascent electoral systems combine to limit both the content and consequence of electoral choice. Weak or nonexistent mechanisms for civil society to debate policies and to engage with elected officials in an ongoing fashion exacerbate the problem. To date, Latin American governments have proven unable to confront the unprecedented levels of crime across the region and the corresponding rise in fear for personal safety, often resulting in popular support for militarized solutions to the public security crisis. More often than not, judiciaries function only for those with money to grease the wheels of the bureaucracy.