This research paper examines the electoral process in Panama during the post-World War II period, with particular emphasis on the presidential election campaign of 1994, the first national election after the American military intervention in late 1989, and the two elections immediately preceding, in 1984 and 1989. Political democracy has yet to take firm root in Panama, which its sad electoral history illustrates. Prior to 1994, Panamanian elections have been marred by charges of fraud and corruption, and their results have often been annulled by military coups. The underlying problems have principally been an imbalanced and poor economy, the absence of a strong middle class and faction-ridden upper class-dominated political parties. Some view the results of the 1994 election as a rejection of the American intervention of 1989. In fact, both the orderliness of the electoral process and the results are encouraging for the future of Panamanian democracy, which still, however, rests on a very thin political and economic base. In the 1994 election, Panamanian voters demonstrated their support for free elections, largely voted sensibly on pocket book issues and abjured ultranationalism while at the same time rejecting the incompetent government of Guillermo Endara, whom the Americans installed in power.
Failure of Democracy in Panama Following Independence
From 1821, after Colombia won its war of independence from Spain, until 1903, Panama remained a department of Gran Colombia and was ruled by governors appointed by the Bogota government. Black and Flores say that, during the last half of the 19th century, the affairs of the isthmus were "in constant turmoil
. . . under forty administrations, fifty riots . . . five attempted secessions, and thirteen interventions by the United States. Coups d'etat, rebellions, and violence were almost continuous."
The Economist pointed out in 1998 that, "after its American-inspired split...