The democratic opening is the transition from generally militaristic, autocratic political systems toward democratically elected governments which recognize and respect human rights.
The most emblematic case of this type of process is Latin America and the Caribbean. Before the Second World War, political exercise and control in the region was in the hands of oligarchic dictatorships and family dynasties.
Tanquetas in the Zócalo of Mexico on August 28, 1968
After a generalized democratic opening movement that began at the end of the 70s of the last century, this situation has been reversed with greater or lesser success.
More representative democratic openings
Mexico
The Aztec nation managed to maintain a certain political stability between 1940 and 1982, a period in which the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) exercised an iron political domination.
Unlike other authoritarian governments, elections were held periodically. There was also a separation between the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.
In addition, civil rights were covered in the constitution. But in practice, none of this worked properly.
Following the student protests in 1968, the need for political reforms began to become apparent.
In 1977, President José López Portillo introduced a reform to the electoral law. For decades, various sectors and parties lobbied to promote a process of change.
At that time, various reforms and increased citizen participation in electoral events reduced the authoritarianism of the PRI until it was defeated in the presidential elections in 2000.
Argentina
Argentina was ruled by a hierarchical military regime from 1976, when María Isabela Perón was overthrown from the presidency, until 1983.
It was a time of severe repression against political opponents, unions, suspected terrorists and supporters. During those years, 10,000 to 30,000 people disappeared.
However, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, various protest movements led by civilian groups began to wane support for the armed forces.
The defeat of the Argentine nation in the Falklands War increased discontent with the military as well as civic activism.
At the end of 1982, a massive demonstration managed to set a date for new elections.
The restoration of electoral politics and the reestablishment of democratic institutions marked the beginning of democratic opening in that country.
Spain
An example of democratic openness outside the Latin American sphere is the case of Spain, a nation that was isolated internationally under the mandate of General Francisco Franco.
This forced it to supply itself with its own resources and its protectionist policies led to multiple economic problems: reduced productivity, little competitive capacity, extremely low salaries and others.
In the mid-1950s, the need for economic liberation became evident. In the sixties and seventies, as a result of economic and social dynamics, authoritarianism looked anachronistic.
Various changes fostered a democratic opening: growth of the industrial and service sectors, strengthening of a middle class that emulated North American values and customs, foreign investment, tourism, among others.
However, it was only after Franco's death that the true transition to democracy occurred.
This was promoted by both opponents and representatives of the dictatorship. Both sides sought the expansion of foreign trade and the integration of the country into the European Economic Community (EEC).
References
- Rico, JM (1997). Criminal justice and democratic transition in Latin America. Mexico: XXI century.
- Roitman Rosenmann, M. (2005). The reasons for democracy in Latin America. Mexico: XXI century.
- Loeza, S. (2015). Mexico's gradual democratization: from above and from below. In S. Bitar and AF Lowenthal, Democratic Transitions: Conversations with World Leaders (Editors), pp. 171-207. Baltimore: JHU Press.
- Linz, JJ and Stepan, A. (2011). Problems of Democratic Transition and Consolidation: Southern Europe, South America, and Post-Communist Europe. Baltimore: JHU Press.
- Argentina (s / f). Freedom House Organization. Recovered from freedomhouse.org.
- Stocker, S. and Windler, C. (1994) Institutions and socio-economic development in Spain and Latin America since colonial times. Bogotá: FUNDES.