Ruptures, neo-coups d’état and Latin America: an analysis of Honduras, Paraguay and Brazil

Abstract

Although the conclusion of the cycle of leftist governments in Latin America was foreseen, the recent pink wave has been a surprise. Disruptions in the rules of the game were not expected, such as those that occurred in Honduras (2009), Paraguay (2012) and Brazil (2016), countries where erroneous interpretations by institutions toppled presidential mandates. The objective of this study is to understand these three processes, using a comparative perspective. We classify the depositions that took place in these three countries as neo-coups d’état to distinguish them from previous ones, because they did not include the direct participation of the military and they were processed through the ruling institutions. We thus reflect on how these events reverberate in the quality of democracy in Latin America and the limits of the analyses that emphasize the consolidation of democracy in the countries studied.