Governance and democracy in post war conditions: the Central American experiences

Abstract

The article discusses the situation of Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador once the internal or external wars in these countries are almost finished. Generalized political violence may be about to disappear but the social, economic and political conditions produce that stable democracy is still more a goal than a reality. According to the argument, transitions to democracy are not finished since governability will be hard to achieve. Efficiency and legitimacy are two basic challenges that Central American polities must achieve to talk about consolidated democracy.