Retrocesos graduales de la democracia hacia el autoritarismo en el siglo XXI: contexto global y análisis para Colombia

The 21st century has witnessed a noticeable regression from democratic governance toward authoritarian tendencies, even within well-established democracies. This reflection paper investigates the legal and institutional practices that have facilitated democratic backsliding in Colombia between 2014 and 2022, encompassing the administrations of Juan Manuel Santos and Iván Duque. Through a conceptual analysis of authoritarianism and an overview of global democratic erosion, the paper contextualizes Colombia’s experience within a broader trend. By applying the Overton Window framework and tracing Colombia’s democratic evolution, the study identifies specific setbacks and institutional shifts that have subtly enabled authoritarian practices under the guise of legality.