The Dynamic Diversity of Latin American Party Systems

Abstract

Most Latin American party systems change so much and in so many ways that each country’s “typical” party system can only be described in rather vague terms. However, the nature of the party system can be better described if we analyze it taking every election into account. This article compares, election by election, 20th century Latin American party systems using indicators such as fragmentation, volatility, personalism, ideological clarity, left-right average trend and polarization. The data cover 150 Lower House legislative elections (in bicameral parliaments) or unicameral in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.