During Colonialism Europeans had all the power and democracy was a bit of an illusion. The legacy of this still remains today.
Colonialism obstructed democracy in Latin America by concentrating power in the hands of elite groups, establishing economic systems that favored the wealthy, and creating clientelism in politics. After independence, these patterns continued, leading to unstable and authoritarian regimes that stifled democratic development. The legacy of these structures still impacts the region's political landscape today.
;