Enrique Krauze on the Past and Future of Mexican and Latin American Democracy
On October 30, 2023, the Georgetown Americas Institute (GAI) hosted a conversation with historian and essayist Enrique Krauze to discuss his writings on the current state of Latin American democracy and Mexico’s democratic challenges.
Latin American democracies are in transition. From the recent battles surrounding the independence of Mexico’s electoral institute to the consolidation of authoritarian regimes in Nicaragua and Venezuela, challenges to democracy abound. Yet there is also hope as activists and leaders stand up across the hemisphere to defend the principles of liberal democracy. To discuss his thoughts on these challenges, GAI hosted Latin American liberal intellectual Enrique Krauze, president of the publishing house Editorial Clío and author of Spinoza en el Parque México (2022).
Spinoza en el Parque México
Krauze spoke at length about his latest book, an autobiography which features reflections on his youth and intellectual upbringing in the 1960s and 1970s as the son of a modest Jewish tailor in Mexico City. Mexico’s single-party state at the time maintained the semblance of democracy but prevented any true democratic competition. He wrote the book during the COVID-19 pandemic as he considered the past and the future of Mexico.
“The title comes from my youth in Parque México, in Mexico City, where I would read Spinoza, a famous Jewish philosopher. My grandfather taught me through those books the importance of freedom of thought, freedom of speech—freedom, period.” -Enrique Krauze.
The influence of liberalism and Jewish thought stand out in Krauze’s writing about his life and career as a public intellectual. The role of his teachers and mentors was vital because they helped shape his liberal outlook. Krauze spoke fondly of this time and drew a clear line between his youth and his convictions in the present.
The Past and Future of Democracy in Mexico
Although Mexico has democratized, Krauze believes that this is still a work in progress. He was once optimistic that the country would quickly achieve a proper division of power with the advent of democratic rule, but he has since come to see the present challenges as clear indication that this is an unfinished task. He has always been intrigued by the role of strongmen political leaders in shaping this dynamic.
“In a country like Mexico and a continent like Latin America, where power has been so concentrated in the caudillos since the nineteenth century, it was clear that if I could find a new, more modern approach to understand those men, I could then understand, not judge, the meaning of their lives and how power was so concentrated in these individuals.” -Enrique Krauze.
He also shared his thoughts on the present and future of Mexico’s democracy, sharing his reservations with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s authoritarian personality. As a descendant from Jews who fled war in Europe, this issue causes particular concern for Krauze. However, he conceded that Obrador has an honest concern for the well-being of the poor.
Looking at the upcoming Mexican presidential election in 2024, the ruling party’s candidate and anticipated next president Claudia Sheinbaum will likely be heavily constrained by her predecessor. Krauze posited that the opposition candidate, Xóchitl Gálvez, could win—although by a small margin. She would then rule over a heavily divided country. Although he fears that a congressional supermajority for the ruling party could open the door to unknown possibilities, Krauze still remains optimistic about the country’s future.
“In Mexico we have not seen linear progress, and if we look at history from the perspective of centuries we were not predestined for democracy. We were a theocracy and then came the caudillos and so on, and we have only truly had 20 years of democracy. That being said, I am moderately optimistic that democracy in Mexico, although damaged, will prevail.”
The event was moderated by GAI Founding Director Alejandro Werner. A full recording of the event is available on the GAI YouTube channel.