Is civil society in the Southern Cone of Latin America at a crossroad?

If there is one region whose political landscape has dramatically changed in the last 20 years, that region is Latin America. After several decades of dictatorships in many countries, the region is now engaged in strengthening the essential elements of representative democracy. Many events and developments affect civil societies in the region, and citizens and organisations are trying to respond to new or re-emerging challenges with varied forms. This article provides an overview of these events, and civil society responses.