The Citizens’ Revolution in Ecuador: A comparative history of political ideas, processes, and outcomes

The Citizens’ Revolution in Ecuador (2007–2017), led by President Rafael Correa, remains the subject of intense political and academic debate. A dominant traditionalist narrative depicts this decade as one of authoritarianism and economic mismanagement, thereby justifying the post-2017 push for institutional “reconstitution.” In contrast, heterodox accounts interpret the period as a project of democratic development—marked by the expansion of rights, social justice, and economic improvement—and as a rupture from the exclusionary neoliberal model of “minimal democracy” that preceded it. This study adjudicates between these competing interpretations through a comparative analysis of political, economic, and social indicators across three periods: the pre–Citizens’ Revolution era (1996–2006), the Revolution itself (2007–2016), and the post-Revolution years (2016–2023). It evaluates democratic legitimacy, living standards, and development outcomes within Ecuador and compared against ten other Latin American countries to control for global commodity price shifts. The findings reveal substantial improvements during the Citizens’ Revolution in areas such as education, income inequality, infrastructure, security, and citizen consent, across internal, historical, and regional dimensions. These results support the view of the Citizens’ Revolution as a democratizing and developmental force, despite certain authoritarian tendencies. By contrast, like the regime prior to the Citizens’ Revolution, subsequent administrations have overseen a marked regression, characterized by diminished public consent, economic deterioration, and rising violence. The study concludes that the Citizens’ Revolution constituted a significant departure from neoliberal minimalist democracy, offered an alternative model of inclusive development, and left a legacy—both of accomplishments and contradictions—that continues to shape Ecuador’s political, social, and economic trajectory.