Regional governance has so far failed to help Latin America overcome its numerous challenges. Yet cooperation persists in some formats, and it will be a necessary instrument going forward.

In Latin America, the coronavirus pandemic has raised the already high temperature of divisive politics. In Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, managing polarization will be key to preserving democracy.

In Latin American countries like Nicaragua, it is a slow erosion of democracy rather than an overt rupture that threatens long-term progress and stability.

Any improvement in Colombia’s democracy hinges on the state’s capacity and willingness to undertake structural reforms, especially those included in the accord.

Latin American governments need to do more to help Venezuela overcome its worst political and economic crisis in more than a decade.

The crisis unfolding in Venezuela will be a litmus test for both national policies and regional mechanisms that are supposed to strengthen democratic rules and norms.