The Third Wave of Democratization in Latin America: Advances and Setbacks

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511791116

The late twentieth century witnessed the birth of an impressive number of new democracies in Latin America. This wave of democratization since 1978 has been by far the broadest and most durable in the history of Latin America, but many of the resulting democratic regimes also suffer from profound deficiencies. What caused democratic regimes to emerge and survive? What are their main achievements and shortcomings? This volume offers an ambitious and comprehensive overview of the unprecedented advances as well as the setbacks in the post-1978 wave of democratization. It seeks to explain the sea change from a region dominated by authoritarian regimes to one in which openly authoritarian regimes are the rare exception, and it analyzes why some countries have achieved striking gains in democratization while others have experienced erosions. The book presents general theoretical arguments about what causes and sustains democracy and analyses of nine compelling country cases.

'… excellent example of theorizing about Latin America's most pressing policy dilemmas … demonstrates a series of theoretical purpose that belies the lingering misperception that 'barefoot empiricists' dominate the field. Specialists, students and laypersons alike will have plenty to reflect upon.'

Source: Development and Change

'This book is an excellent contribution to the debate on democracy in Latin America. … can be used by academics and students to the extent that the book offers deep, comprehensive and clear analysis of recent political events in the region.'

Source: Political Studies Review

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
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Contents
pp vii-viii
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List of Figures
pp ix-ix
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List of Tables
pp x-xii
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List of contributors
pp xiii-xvi
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Acknowledgments
pp xvii-xviii
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Introduction: The Third Wave of Democratization in Latin America
pp 1-13
- By Scott P. Mainwaring, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Frances Hagopian, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Political Science and former Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
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1 - Latin American Democratization since 1978: Democratic Transitions, Breakdowns, and Erosions
pp 14-60
- By Scott Mainwaring, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Aníbal Pérez-Liñán, Assistant Professor of Political Science and a member of the Center for Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh
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PART I - THREE DEMOCRATIC GIANTS WITH AUTHORITARIAN PASTS: ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AND MEXICO
pp 61-62
- By Frances Hagopian, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Political Science and former Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Scott P. Mainwaring, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
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2 - Argentina: Democratic Survival amidst Economic Failure
pp 63-89
- By Steven Levitsky, Associate Professor of the Social Sciences, Harvard University
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3 - The Growing Sustainability of Brazil's Low-Quality Democracy
pp 90-120
- By Kurt Weyland, Professor of Government, University of Texas at Austin
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4 - The Demise of Mexico's One-Party Dominant Regime: Elite Choices and the Masses in the Establishment of Democracy
pp 121-146
- By Beatriz Magaloni, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Stanford University
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PART II - UNEXPECTED DEMOCRACIES IN UNLIKELY COUNTRIES: BOLIVIA, EL SALVADOR, AND GUATEMALA
pp 147-148
- By Frances Hagopian, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Political Science and former Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Scott P. Mainwaring, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
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5 - Bolivia's Democracy at the Crossroads
pp 149-178
- By René Antonio Mayorga, Senior Researcher, Centro Boliviano de Estudios Multidisciplinarios (CEBEM)
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6 - Challenges to Political Democracy in El Salvador
pp 179-201
- By Elisabeth Jean Wood, Comparative Politics, Yale University
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7 - Democracy on Ice: The Multiple Challenges of Guatemala's Peace Process
pp 202-232
- By Mitchell A. Seligson, Centennial Professor of Political Science, Vanderbilt University
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PART III - DEMOCRATIC EROSIONS IN THE THIRD WAVE: COLOMBIA, PERU, AND VENEZUELA
pp 233-234
- By Frances Hagopian, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Political Science and former Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Scott P. Mainwaring, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
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8 - From “Restricted” to “Besieged”: The Changing Nature of the Limits to Democracy in Colombia
pp 235-260
- By Ana María Bejarano, Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto, Eduardo Pizarro, Professor, Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogotá
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9 - Peru 1980–2000: Chronicle of a Death Foretold? Determinism, Political Decisions, and Open Outcomes
pp 261-288
- By Martín Tanaka, Senior Researcher and Research Director, Instituto de Estudios Peruanos in Lima
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10 - Explaining Democratic Deterioration in Venezuela through Nested Inference
pp 289-316
- By Michael Coppedge, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and a Fellow of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
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PART IV - Conclusions
pp 317-318
- By Frances Hagopian, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Political Science and former Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, Scott P. Mainwaring, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
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11 - Conclusions: Government Performance, Political Representation, and Public Perceptions of Contemporary Democracy in Latin America
pp 319-362
- By Frances Hagopian, Associate Professor of Latin American Studies in the Department of Political Science and former Director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame
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References
pp 363-398
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Index
pp 399-413
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The Third Wave of Democratization in Latin America

Advances and Setbacks

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

List of Figures
pp ix-ix

List of Tables
pp x-xii

List of contributors
pp xiii-xvi

Acknowledgments
pp xvii-xviii

Introduction: The Third Wave of Democratization in Latin America
pp 1-13

1 - Latin American Democratization since 1978: Democratic Transitions, Breakdowns, and Erosions
pp 14-60

PART I - THREE DEMOCRATIC GIANTS WITH AUTHORITARIAN PASTS: ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, AND MEXICO
pp 61-62

2 - Argentina: Democratic Survival amidst Economic Failure
pp 63-89

3 - The Growing Sustainability of Brazil's Low-Quality Democracy
pp 90-120

4 - The Demise of Mexico's One-Party Dominant Regime: Elite Choices and the Masses in the Establishment of Democracy
pp 121-146

PART II - UNEXPECTED DEMOCRACIES IN UNLIKELY COUNTRIES: BOLIVIA, EL SALVADOR, AND GUATEMALA
pp 147-148

5 - Bolivia's Democracy at the Crossroads
pp 149-178

6 - Challenges to Political Democracy in El Salvador
pp 179-201

7 - Democracy on Ice: The Multiple Challenges of Guatemala's Peace Process
pp 202-232

PART III - DEMOCRATIC EROSIONS IN THE THIRD WAVE: COLOMBIA, PERU, AND VENEZUELA
pp 233-234

8 - From “Restricted” to “Besieged”: The Changing Nature of the Limits to Democracy in Colombia
pp 235-260

9 - Peru 1980–2000: Chronicle of a Death Foretold? Determinism, Political Decisions, and Open Outcomes
pp 261-288

10 - Explaining Democratic Deterioration in Venezuela through Nested Inference
pp 289-316

PART IV - Conclusions
pp 317-318

11 - Conclusions: Government Performance, Political Representation, and Public Perceptions of Contemporary Democracy in Latin America
pp 319-362

References
pp 363-398

Index
pp 399-413

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The Third Wave of Democratization in Latin America

Advances and Setbacks

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Contents

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