Democracy and Violence in Latin America

A glance at the experiences of Latin American countries ‘before’ and ‘after’ democracy reveals an explosive growth in murder rates under democratic governments


Murder rates per 100,000 population in Latin America

[Late 70s –early 80s] Late 80s - early 90s

1. Brazil [11.5] 19.7 [1964 –1985 Military rule]
2. Mexico [18.2] 17.8 [1929-2000 Monopoly of power of Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)]
3. Trinidad and Tobago [2.1] 12.6 [1956-1986 30-year rule of the People’s National Movement]
4. Peru [2.4] 11.5 [1968-1980 Military rule]
5. Panama [2.1] 10.9 [1968-1978 Virtual dictatorship of Torrijos]
6. Ecuador [6.4] 10.3 [1945-1979 Military rule]
7. Argentina [3.9] 4.8 [1976-1983 Rule by military junta]
8. Uruguay [2.6] 4.4 [1973-1985 Military rule]
9. Paraguay [5.1] 4 [1955-1990 Alfredo Stroessner (president for 35 years) overthrown in coup by Gen. Rodriguez, later elected on 1st May]
10. Chile [2.6] 3 [1973-1989 General Pinochet rules]
11. Colombia [20.5] 89.5 [1957-1974 National Front’s monopoly; voter apathy threatens military involvement; voters confident in 1982 – ditto drug-traffickers]
12. Venezuela [11.7] 15.2 [1969-1999 Two-party democracy: oil-bonanza creates privileged elite – glut stagnates economy till late 1980s; austerity leads to violence : constitutional rights suspended as armed forces restore order in 1990]

Sources: The Economist, March 8th, 1997, p. 48; Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th Edition; Britannica Books of the Year 1989 - 1991