Basics of direct democracy in Latin America

Introduction: the paper reveals the main features of democratic institutions in Latin America through the analysis of the forms and mechanisms of direct democracy, as well as through the study of the direct democracy index in Latin American states. Objectives: the paper is to explore democratic institutions in Latin America and to identify the possibilities and boundaries of direct democracy mechanisms in the states under research. Methods: analysis of documents (including constitutions of Latin American states), behavioral method, structural-functional method, system analysis, institutional method, comparative analysis. Results: the main mechanisms of direct democracy in Latin America were identified; the direct democracy index in Latin American states was calculated; the raise of direct democracy in Latin America as well as the prospects for its development in the region were shown. Conclusions: the increasing importance of direct democracy in Latin America is becoming apparent. Thus, the role of direct democracy mechanisms becomes especially noticeable at the local level, where, due to the frequency of plebiscites, there are much more displacements from elected posts, various preliminary popular discussions or popular initiatives. In countries with an authoritarian tradition and a high concentration of power in the hands of the president, executive power more often gives impetus to the popular will. In the countries that, on the contrary, rely on separation of powers and negotiations, direct democracy mechanisms are used by citizens and political parties much more often and, due to this fact, the manifestation of both direct and representative democracy is intensified.