Alexa Zamora

From Authoritarianism to Democracy in Latin America: The Path for Nicaragua

Ms. Alexa Zamora is the founder of Innonica, a consortium of civil society organizations dedicated to promoting human rights, youth political participation, and peace in Nicaragua. She is also the current representative of MARIMBA Agents of Change, a youth civic engagement organization, and an expert on Central American regional integration. She is a former member of the Political Council of the Blue and White National Unity, Nicaragua’s main opposition bloc. In recognition of her work defending human rights, the Peruvian Congress awarded her the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for the Defense of Democracy and Human Rights in 2019. An outspoken defender of democracy in Nicaragua, she was forced to flee her country of origin in 2020 owing to the Ortega government’s persecution of her and other activists. During her fellowship, Ms. Zamora is undertaking a comparative study of democratic transitions in Latin America and beyond, in order to understand the key institutions and actors that underpin successful transitions. Her goal is to draw lessons for a future democratic transition in Nicaragua.