Xiomara Castro de Zelaya is slated to be Honduras’ next president. While the election results represent a significant step forward for democratic governance, the political culture of democracy in Honduras remains fragile.
Data from the AmericasBarometer survey shows that Latin Americans’ faith in the U.S. government and democracy has declined while their trust in the Chinese government has risen along with regional concern over insecurity and corruption.
Reflecting a difficult couple of years for the Americas, the biennial LAPOP survey shows declining support for democracy and growing concern over corruption. But it isn’t all bad news.
The Zika virus has raised the issue of abortion in Latin America, where a number of countries such as El Salvador, Nicaragua and Chile restrict the right to terminate a pregnancy in all cases. Will Zika change the debate and policies on a woman’s right to choose in the Americas?
When measuring corruption, the differences between two studies highlight that international perceptions of corruption do not always line up with on-the-ground experiences. While many may focus on the scandal-making headlines and business climate, surveys reveal the petty corruption afflicting the daily lives of citizens. They’re not the same.
