A Transition in Search of Democracy: Democratic Stagnation and Resurgent Authoritarianism in Paraguay

Abstract

This article introduces a special issue on Paraguay’s stalled democratization and enduring authoritarian legacies following the fall of Alfredo Stroessner’s dictatorship. Despite formal political reforms, the country remains dominated by elite rule, institutional fragility, and clientelist governance, reinforced by the near-continuous hegemony of the Colorado Party. The article surveys key turning points in the post-Stroessner period, explores the resurgence of authoritarianism under Cartismo, and outlines four themes addressed in the issue: authoritarian legacies and political patronage; state capture by economic elites; the rise of agro-extractivism; and grassroots struggles for land and democracy. Together, the contributions offer a critical reassessment of Paraguay’s post-dictatorship trajectory and shed light on the structural forces driving persistent democratic stagnation.