The Third Wave of Democratization in Latin America: Advances and Setbacks
Cambridge University Press, 8/4/2005
EAN 9780521613200, ISBN10: 0521613205
Paperback, 432 pages, 23.4 x 15.6 x 2.5 cm
Language: English
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.
Introduction
the third wave of democratization in Latin America Scott Mainwaring and Frances Hagopian
1. Latin American democratization since 1978
democratic transitions, breakdowns, and erosions Scott Mainwaring and AnÃÂbal Pérez-Liñán
Part I. Three Democratic Giants with Authoritarian Pasts
Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico
2. Argentina
democratic survival amidst economic failure Steven Levitsky
3. The growing sustainability of Brazil's low-quality democracy Kurt Weyland
4. The demise of Mexico's one-party dominant regime
elite choices and the masses in the establishment of democracy Beatriz Magaloni
Part II. Unexpected Democracies in Unlikely Countries
Bolivia, El Salvador, and Guatemala
5. Bolivia's democracy at the crossroads René Antonio Mayorga
6. Challenges to political democracy in El Salvador Elisabeth Jean Wood
7. Democracy on ice
the multiple challenges of Guatemala's peace process Mitchell A. Seligson
Part III. Democratic Erosion in The Third Wave
Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela
8. From 'restricted' to 'besieged'
the changing nature of the limits to democracy in Colombia Ana MarÃÂa Bejarano and Eduardo Pizarro
9. Peru 1980–2000
chronicle of a death foretold? determinism, political decisions, and open outcomes MartÃÂn Tanaka
10. Explaining democratic deterioration in Venezuela through nested inference Michael Coppedge
Part IV. Conclusions
11. Conclusions
Government performance, political representation, and public perceptions of contemporary democracy in Latin America Frances Hagopian.
'… 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.' 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.' Political Studies Review