Replication Data for: "Electoral Volatility and Party Polarization as Challenges to Democratic Stability in Latin America"

Democracy in Latin America is under extraordinary strain because of polarization. This paper aims to investigate the drivers of party polarization, focusing on electoral volatility in 18 Latin American countries from 1993-2018. Extant studies suggest that volatility influences polarization by incentivizing parties to adopt polarizing strategies to secure survival. By utilizing the Latin American Electoral Volatility Dataset (LAEVD), this paper employs a more precise measure of polarization compared to previous studies and controls for additional variables. Moreover, the theoretical underpinnings will be critically assessed and further developed, especially regarding new party entry. My results diverge from previous studies suggesting that Latin American democracies become more polarized as they age due to the entry of new parties. This reflects the persistent struggle for party systems in the region to institutionalize. Avoiding democracy’s demise in Latin America requires sustainable party building to solidify electoral competition and regain citizens’ trust in democratic institutions.