Strengthening Democracy through Community Capacity-Building: The Cases of Perú, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Honduras

By Héctor Luis Díaz, Ph.D., Professor & Director School of Social Work

A quantitative and qualitative study was conducted in four Latin American countries to explore the associations between social capital, economic progress at the community level and support for democratic principles and behaviors.  Study findings suggest that participation in a development program for at least two years is positively associated with economic progress, and the frequency of engaging in democratic behaviors. Findings provide some support for the modernization theory that proposes that economic development will produce democracy.  It also provides some support for the theory of community capacity.