ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by examining the particular institutional design of each country, focusing attention on electoral and party systems, and describes Latin American politics before and beyond the so-called commodity crisis. Understanding Latin American political cycles, the meaning of left and right in the region or the impact of economic crises on politics will require, first and foremost, recognition of the institutional systems in which phenomena and dynamics occur. The establishment of governmental institutions and electoral systems has proven conducive to the legitimation of the new democracies. Among these institutions, electoral laws and party systems occupy a significant position in terms of representation and political articulation. The chapter offers an overview of the Latin American political systems before and after the most recent economic crisis. It describes the region’s institutions – especially the electoral and party systems – as well as recent political dynamics.
