MEXICO CITY ¨C To imagine all Latin American countries being governed by a republican order respectful of freedom and democracy seems utopian. It shouldn¡¯t. Latin Americans established precisely such an order for themselves 200 years ago after gaining independence from Spain and Portugal.
The continent¡¯s own founding fathers ¡ª including Andres Bello, Simon Bolivar, Juan Bautista Alberdi, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento and Jose Maria Luis Mora ¡ª took inspiration from those of the United States. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were still alive when Latin Americans achieved independence from Spain, and the region¡¯s first constitutions duly recognized the essential elements of any republic: separation of powers, the rule of law, civil liberties, a free press and regular elections.
While some of these republics were more enduring and successful than others (those in Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica, and, for long periods, Argentina), all ultimately proved unstable and fragile. There were many ruptures, not so much because the founding ideals were abandoned, but because three other baleful influences prevailed.
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