Resumen

ROSAL, RENZO LAUTARO  y  SOLARES, HUGO ANTONIO. Guatemala 2008Democracy in the Midst of a Complex Scenario. Rev. cienc. polít. (Santiago) [online]. 2009, vol.29, n.2, pp. 429-451. ISSN 0718-090X.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-090X2009000200009.

Through the year 2008, Guatemalan democracy achieved some significant advances, but at the same time the Nation was required to face many difficulties that obligate to double efforts. First, the country started a new Government that consolidated the democratic process. The Social-Democrat ideological orientation of the new administration has produced expectations about a bigger support to social policies favorable to the poorest people, and about a greater opening to dialogue with civil society. Despite these positive signals, the country was affected by the world economic crisis that is supposed to get worse in 2009, what could complicate even more the situation of poverty that live wide sectors of Guatemalan population. This situation is produced in the midst of unprecedented levels of crime and violence in Guatemala, provoked to a large extent by juvenile gangs and, especially, by organized crime organizations headed by drug trafficking. It is true that such a situation doesn't call to optimism, but neither it is convenient to assume and attitude of defeat, given the country's potentials to recover and continue advancing.

Palabras clave : Democracy; crime; poverty; economic stability; political parties.