International Crisis Group
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Ecuador | Latin America
Detailed conflict history
CrisisWatch database
Recent reports and briefings
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Ecuador has been Latin America’s most unstable democracy for a decade. Starting with the ouster of President Bucaram and street protests in 1997, the country has suffered a series of weak, temporary governments, while rule of law has been progressively undermined. The economic and banking crisis of the early 1990s still casts a shadow over a precarious oil-based economy. Ecuador’s democratic institutions remain ill-entrenched, a product of the ongoing political exclusion of important segments of society and the domineering presence of intransigent elites and parties. Combined, these factors have prevented long-term planning and an effective attack on corruption, patronage politics and rent-seeking attitudes fostered by oil wealth.

President Rafael Correa, elected in November 2006, has focused on the creation of a Constituent Assembly to speed a radical reform program through the drafting of a new constitution. Yet he has failed to pay equal attention to building consensus for fundamental change, in the face of obstruction from elites committed to protecting their privileges. Meanwhile, the spillover from conflict in Colombia along Ecuador’s northern border remains a major source of tension with its Andean neighbour. 

Crisis Group follows developments in Ecuador from its Bogotá office. Reporting has analysed the political history, make-up and goals of the left-wing government of Correa. Crisis Group will continue to monitor political and conflict-related developments in the country, and assess the government’s efforts in overcoming the instability that has characterised Ecuador’s recent history.

All Crisis Group's reports on Ecuador are listed found below, starting with the most recent.

Articles, op-eds, speeches and media releases can be found under the media section.

Click here for a more detailed history of the country/conflict.


Recent reports & briefings