Satisfaction with democracy registered its lowest global score in 2019, with Latin America being the worst-performing region and the most seized by social protest. This paper briefly surveys and assesses the main narratives that attempt to explain the causes of this discontent in the region. The results show that discontent has different roots, which are mostly explained from an individual point of view rather than from a contextual one. Inequality of opportunity and institutional weaknesses play the main role. Considering the COVID-19 social and economic crisis, our results shed light on the key elements to address whether discontent is to be contained.

中文翻译：

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对拉丁美洲民主的不满

2019 年，对民主的满意度在全球范围内得分最低，拉丁美洲是表现最差的地区，也是社会抗议活动最多的地区。本文简要调查和评估了试图解释该地区这种不满情绪的原因的主要叙述。结果表明，不满有不同的根源，主要是从个人的角度而不是从上下文的角度来解释。机会不平等和体制弱点起主要作用。考虑到 COVID-19 社会和经济危机，我们的结果揭示了解决是否要遏制不满的关键因素。