Latin America: The Temptation of Authoritarianism

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Esteban Biba/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (13079925b) Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora (C) is guarded by agents after a session at the Tower of Courts, for the case against him regarding three alleged crimes, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, 09 August 2022. Zamora, one of the main critics of the Government presided over by Alejandro Giammattei, will face a judicial process for three crimes, as determined by a local court. The president and founder of the morning newspaper El Periodico was linked to a judicial process by decision of the Seventh Criminal Court of the Guatemalan Judicial Organism, in charge of Judge Fredy Orellana. Guatemalan journalist critical of Giammattei will face judicial process, Guatemala City - 09 Aug 2022

Authoritarianism is a recurrent trend in Latin American history since independence. As long as institutions can not be established on permanent bases, dictators keep coming surging, presently not through coup d’états, but through elections. Are we condemned to repetition? Has populism come to remain? Can we hope for democracy in the future?

ABOUT OUR GUEST SPEAKER
Sergio Ramírez is a Nicaraguan writer (1942) who participated in the revolution that overthrew the Somoza family dictatorship in 1979. He was vice president between 1985 and 1990. He has published more than 50 books including novels, short stories, essays and chronicles, translated into 20 languages. He has received various literary awards, including the Cervantes Prize in 2017. He is living in exile in Madrid since 2021.

DISCUSSANT
Miguel Centeno, Sociology, Princeton University

Open to Princeton students and faculty, and specially invited guests. A “to-go” lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the event.