High Anxiety in the Andes: Crisis and Contention in Ecuador

Resumen

Ecuador has just emerged from its 54th state of emergency in 21 difficult years of democratic rule. 1 As in other Andean countries, economic trouble, political instability, and social unrest make democracy look far from secure. Yet, despite perpetual crisis, Ecuador has somehow avoided both the internal warfare that afflicts Colombia (its northern neighbor) and the authoritarian excesses of Peru (its neighbor to the south). A look at the events of the past year in Ecuador reveals some of the peculiarities of continuing crisis in this Andean republic.