Latin America is a large and diverse region, spanning throughout North to South America, and providing a wide range of economic and political systems, despite being overall plagued by poverty and underdevelopment. Although in the West democracies are viewed as the best political system, it is one that has provided Latin America with little success in stability and development, at least until recently.
Democracy
Often democracy is perceived according to it's Western manifestation, as a form of government consisting of electoral institutions, some participatory institutions and free elections. Capitalism is also often associated with a strong democracy, viewed as the economic system which assures the most freedom to individuals. In Latin America, the experience has been different.
Latin America's Colonial Heritage
The power structures established during the Spanish colonial period have persisted to this day. Essentially, these were capitalist power structures and the colonies were part of a larger economic and political system and were not in any way independent. Colony economics were based on the use of Black and Indian slaves to exploit the natural resources of the continents for the benefit of the oppressing class in the colonies, the White settlers, and most of all Spain.
