Political Discontent in Latin America with Political Scientist Vicky Murillo

In this episode, Vicky Murillo, professor of political science and international and public affairs at Columbia University, joins Kellogg Doctoral Affiliate Géssica de Freitas, PhD student in political science at the University of Notre Dame, for a conversation about her forthcoming co-edited volume with Gabriel Kessler. The book examines a pressing question in contemporary Latin America: why are citizens increasingly disillusioned with democracy, even as the region has achieved notable social progress? Murillo discusses how improvements in poverty reduction, education, and rights expansion have raised expectations that many governments have struggled to fulfill, generating frustration and widespread political discontent. She explains the distinction between “vertical” discontent, aimed at political elites as a whole, and “horizontal” discontent, which targets opposing political coalitions—each presenting unique challenges for democratic stability and representation in Latin America.