Territorial Governance as a Firewall Against Authoritarianism. Autonomy, Transparency, and Citizenship to Defend Freedom

Abstract

Objective: To analyze territorial governance and decentralization processes as mechanisms for institutional strengthening and resistance to authoritarianism in contexts where the concentration of political power threatens democratic viability, with particular attention to contemporary political dynamics in Colombia and Latin America. Method: Reflective article integrating a conceptual analysis of specialized literature on decentralization, deliberative democracy, and territorial governance with a critical examination of contemporary political dynamics in Latin America, particularly in Colombia. The study reviews comparative experiences of local governments, intergovernmental transfer systems, and territorial citizen participation mechanisms. Results: The findings indicate that territorial governance grounded in regional autonomy represents an institutional strategy against authoritarianism advancing  under the guise of legality and populism. The strategic fragmentation of power among levels of government, the strength of accountable local leadership, and participatory construction from regional contexts emerge as effective mechanisms of democratic resilience. However, structural tensions between the unitary state model and demands for territorial autonomy are evident, along with risks of local political capture and corruption that must be addressed through robust institutional frameworks. Fiscal decentralization emerges as a necessary but insufficient condition for genuine territorial autonomy. Conclusion: Revitalizing territorial governance based on principles of autonomy, transparency, and citizen participation constitutes a viable response to the institutional trust crisis characterizing contemporary Latin American democracies. Strengthening regions and municipalities emerges as an ethical and political imperative to contain authoritarian risks and regenerate democratic legitimacy in contexts of extreme polarization and institutional distrust. Nonetheless, effective territorial governance simultaneously requires genuine fiscal decentralization, strengthened local capacities, robust anti-corruption mechanisms, and constitutional architectures that safeguard territorial autonomy against recentralizing trends.