Illiberalism is on the rise in the Americas. The region, once a bastion of post-Cold War democracy with countries like Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay forging strong liberal institutions after overthrowing dictators, is experiencing a period of democratic backsliding. Recent developments include growing corruption and the democratic election of strongmen, coupled with deteriorations in the rule of law and institutions in countries such as Venezuela, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. There are interlacing causes behind the trend, including high rates of violent crime, economic discontent, and the subsequent rise of populist leaders who promise solutions to these problems.
The rise of illiberalism in the region, which is characterized by increasing authoritarian or undemocratic political systems, suppression of civil liberties, and the degradation of the rule of law, threatens core U.S. interests: notably, illiberalism hinders the advance of democracy and mutual economic prosperity, the control of drug flows, and transnational organized crime. Additionally, growing Chinese interest in the region offers many Latin American governments an attractive alternative, posing a threat to U.S. interests. These challenges create various short- and long-term obstacles to building strong, productive, and enduring U.S. partnerships in the Americas. During his first international trip in his capacity as Secretary of State, Marco Rubio stated, “For many reasons, U.S. foreign policy has long focused on other regions while overlooking our own. As a result, we’ve let problems fester, missed opportunities, and neglected partners. That ends now.” In this spirit, U.S. policymakers should take an active and thoughtful role in combating illiberalism close to home to ensure the Americas continue to prosper while ensuring partnerships fulfill key economic and security goals, as well as other objectives—such as curbing irregular migration and promoting human rights.