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  3. Democracies and Dictatorships in Latin America
  • Cited by 202
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    • Publisher:
      Cambridge University Press
      Publication date:
      05 June 2014
      31 January 2014
      ISBN:
      9781139047845
      9780521190015
      9780521152242
      DOI:
      https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139047845
      Dimensions:
      (234 x 156 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.62kg, 368 Pages
      Dimensions:
      (234 x 156 mm)
      Weight & Pages:
      0.5kg, 368 Pages
      • Subjects:
      Politics and International Relations, Comparative Politics
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    Subjects:
    Politics and International Relations, Comparative Politics
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    Book description

    This book presents a new theory for why political regimes emerge, and why they subsequently survive or break down. It then analyzes the emergence, survival and fall of democracies and dictatorships in Latin America since 1900. Scott Mainwaring and Aníbal Pérez-Liñán argue for a theoretical approach situated between long-term structural and cultural explanations and short-term explanations that look at the decisions of specific leaders. They focus on the political preferences of powerful actors - the degree to which they embrace democracy as an intrinsically desirable end and their policy radicalism - to explain regime outcomes. They also demonstrate that transnational forces and influences are crucial to understand regional waves of democratization. Based on extensive research into the political histories of all twenty Latin American countries, this book offers the first extended analysis of regime emergence, survival and failure for all of Latin America over a long period of time.

    Awards

    Winner of the 2014 Donna Lee Van Cott Book Award, Political Institutions Section, Latin American Studies Association

    Co-Winner of the 2014 Best Book Award, Comparative Democratization Section, American Political Science Association

    Reviews

    ‘Democracies and Dictatorships in Latin America takes a comprehensive look at regime change in that region, explaining the surprising endurance of democracy there since the 1970s. Through a parsimonious yet comprehensive theory of democratization that is contrasted with other theories, Professors Mainwaring and Pérez-Liñán provide analysis that will revive interest in these topics. Well organized and well written, this timely book will be of interest to scholars, analytically oriented lay readers, and policy makers alike.’

    William R. Keech - Research Professor of Political Economy, Duke University

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