Open Government? Democracy and Transparency Backsliding in Latin America’s Populist Governments

The Open Government Partnership (OGP), established in 2011, aims to promote transparency, open data, civil society participation, and accountability, but its effectiveness varies among governments. This article analyzes the setbacks in transparency and open government policies in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, focusing on how populist governments impact these principles. It examines the gap between government transparency and OGP guidelines, civil society reactions, enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance, the direct and indirect pathway of implementation, and the effects of AI and disinformation on transparency. Under Bolsonaro in Brazil, there were significant restrictions on FOIA, secrecy on documents, and the establishment of a secret budget. Lula's administration still has challenges concerning governmental information and budget amendments. In Mexico, AMLO’s constant attacks on transparency and the dismantling of the INAI agency were observed. In Argentina, Javier Milei directly attacked FOIA and access to public information with Decree 780/2024. Drawing on case studies and the sociology of organizations’ theoretical framework, the study concludes that open government policies are not yet institutionalized due to weak normative and cultural cognitive pillars, along with risks involving regulatory frameworks. Establishing an Open State with clear standards is essential to strengthen democracy.