Is Democracy in Retreat? Authoritarianism, Populism and Regional Prospects. Interview with Lisa Zanotti

Resumen

In recent years, the rise of populist leaderships and authoritarian discourses has reshaped the geopolitical and social landscape across different regions of the world. From Europe to Latin America, governments and political movements have increasingly resorted to rhetoric that invokes ”The People” and ”Democracy”, yet in practice rejects pluralism, attacks the opposition, and undermines democratic institutions. In this interview, Dr. Lisa Zanotti, Postdoctoral Researcher at Diego Portales University, Associate Researcher at the Laboratory for the Study of the Far Right (Ultra-Lab), and Director of the Fondecyt Project, whom I thank for her time and willingness to participate, analyzes the similarities and differences between radical left- and right-wing projects, populism, the opportunities and challenges of a possible democratic transition in Venezuela, and the early warning signs that allow us to identify processes of democratic deterioration in the region and the world.