by Jeraldine Munoz | Oct 19, 2026 | George Mason University
Peru is considered a democracy in the sense that it has competitive, fair, and free elections, but the political instability, polarization, and institutional conflicts that it had during Pedro Castillo’s presidency revealed that its democracy is one that remains...
by Mariana Vasquez | Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University
On December 7th, 2022, Pedro Castillo—then President of Peru—went on live television. What should’ve been a routine presidential address turned into horror: he announced he was dissolving Congress and would rule by decree. Within the hour, his own cabinet started...
by Gayoung Park | Oct 17, 2026 | George Mason University
How Democracy Dies Silently Without Brute Force It is rare for a dictator to seize a nation overnight through brute force. Instead, democracies often break down very quietly. Elections are still held, courts remain open, and the constitution is still there, but it all...
by Yun Jeong Gwak | Sep 22, 2026 | George Mason University, Universities
On April 1, 2024, Bertha Gisela Gaytán stood at a campaign rally in Celaya, a city in Guanajuato that’s been torn apart by a cartel turf war. She was running for mayor, promising to fix the roads and get the violence under control. Weeks before, she had asked...
by Juana Hernandez | May 11, 2026 | James Madison University
After his defeat in 2022, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro refused to concede explicitly and was absent during the presidential inauguration. Following his criticism of the election results,...
