Desafíos (Jul 2012)

The Colombian Subproliarchy: State Deficiencies and Democratic Deficit

  • Javier Duque Daza

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 175 – 230

Abstract

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This article analyzes the Colombian democracy in the decade 2002-2011. The central argument is that Colombia is a case of democracy deficits, which does not cover the minimum of political democracies and constitutes a subpoliarchy. In this condition, it directly affects state deficiencies in its dimensions of coercion and social cohesion. Democratic deficits occur in the basic conditions of political competition, with regular elections, though not free, nor fair and competitive elections, in the continued presence of fraud and manipulation of election results, and the absence of guarantees for civil and political liberties. These features justify the various adjectives applied to Colombia, always from a negative perspective.

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