Epilogue

Abstract

The book closes with an epilogue that addresses the current health and economic conundrum that Latin American societies face and some of their political repercusions. The text registers how these societies have been affected by the pandemic, economic deceleration, rising unemployment and growing challenges to the livelihood of millions of citizens. While representative democracy weakens under such pressures and populist projects are recreated, the region has a strong tradition of highly participatory societies pressing demands and making their voices heard in the public arena. Under those conditions, one should expect outbursts of popular mobilization and unrest to develop that will challenge personalist rule and decision-making, most likely supported by countervailing visions of democracy that reverberate cyclically in the public spheres of Latin America.