By Juliana Uribe Villegas, EL PAIS, March 10, 2025
(Translated by Eunice Gibson, CSN Volunteer Translator)
In recent weeks, democracy in Latin America has suffered a silent but devastating blow. With the suspension or reduction of financing of key organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), International Republican Institute (IRI), the Institute for Peace, the Inter-American Foundation, and USAID, hundreds of programs that guaranteed free elections, strengthened democratic institutions, and promoted freedom of the press have been cancelled.
This situation worsens a tendency toward the erosion of the democracies in the region. In a number of countries, the governments themselves are weakening the institutions charged with guaranteeing fair election processes and maintaining the balance of power. The reduction in funding for elections, the weakening of agencies of control, and pressure on the media are part of a strategy to concentrate power and restrict access to independent information.
That’s not the only problem with the US policy. It’s affecting us directly. The weakening of democratic institutions erodes the Rule of Law, weakens security, and concentrates power in just a few, with consequences for our freedom and for our economic opportunities.
The danger of the defunding: Why should it matter to us?
When reduction of funding for democracy is being talked about, it sounds like a problem that’s far away, but this crisis affects everybody. For decades these programs have promoted transparent elections, fortified Congresses and local governments, defended human rights, and permitted the survival of independent media. If those institutions disappear, who will take their place? Governments have implemented mechanisms to reduce the ability of civil society to take action, and to weaken the institutions that could halt their attempts to centralize and perpetuate their power. That is not an ideological debate: without democracy, there’s no room for debate or for diversity of ideas. Where power is concentrated, the rules change as may be convenient. That affects economic stability, legal security, and individual liberties.
What initiatives are at risk?
The impact of this crisis is already being felt. Some of the programs being affected include:
- Independent communications media that depend on external funding to investigate and publish information in settings where censorship is a risk.
- Election monitoring systems that guarantee clean elections and minimize fraud.
- Electoral agencies and courts of justice that are facing budget cuts or attacks on their independence.
- Academic research and opinion surveys on the state of democracy.
- Programs for political and civic education for citizen leaders.
- Civic technologies that foment transparency and accountability.
- Information and citizen mobilization campaigns in defense of rights.
- Monitoring of disinformation and hate speech on social networks and media.
The weakening of these initiatives only benefits authoritarian regimes and those who are seeking to eliminate any form of control over their power.
Who benefits from the weakening of democracy?
The suspension of these funds is not just a bureaucratic issue. While democratic organizations are losing support, the authoritarian regimes on the continent are gaining territory. That includes:
- Less access to true information, weakening the ability of the citizens to make informed decisions.
- Reduction of spaces for citizen participation.
- Increased vulnerability in elections because of the loss of autonomy of election agencies.
- Citizens lose their connection with politics and civic action.
There are clear consequences when democracy is weakened: there is less transparency, more corruption, loss of trust in institutions, and deeper economic and social crises. In addition, citizen participation is key to the struggle against climate change and therefore the weakening of democracy will also affect that crucial agenda.
What can we do? Citizen power and an organized community
If the governments look the other way and international cooperation is withdrawn, the answer is “It’s us!”. There’s no democracy without active citizens and businesses committed to its defense. Some urgent actions:
- Business owners: support social organizations that work for fair and equitable regulations.
- Citizens: participate, donate, and volunteer in social organizations.
- Independent media: Subscribe, donate, and share content to defend its work.
- Education: Consume and disseminate information from reliable sources to put a stop to disinformation.
- Get involved in specific causes. Choose a battle and commit yourself to it.
- Political participation: Vote, make demands of representatives, and create networks of like-minded people.
- Politicians: Redouble your efforts to strengthen the system of brakes and counterweights.
If we keep ourselves active and informed, we will be an obstacle to those who try to concentrate their power and silence critical voices.
In times of uncertainty, hope is not a naïve illusion, but rather, it’s a strategy of resistance. Defending democracy in Latin America is not the task for just the few; instead, it’s the responsibility of every one of us. And the best way to do that is together.