Democratic Transitions in the Americas Depend on Public Ownership
Democratic transitions in the Americas risk losing legitimacy when security-first or externally coordinated roadmaps lack credible evidence that power will change hands and domestic political ownership. Leopoldo López argued that Venezuela needs visible steps toward a credible election and the dismantling of repressive institutions; OAS secretary general Albert Ramdin backed country-specific pathways that extend beyond elections to durable governance. Former Haitian foreign minister Dominique Dupuy warned that Haiti’s prolonged interim rule shows how transition plans can perpetuate exclusion when the public remains outside the political process.
The Aspen Institute·Jul 16, 2026·9 min read
