Democracies and Dictatorships in Latin America: Emergence, Survival, and Fall
Cambridge University Press, 1/31/2014
EAN 9780521190015, ISBN10: 0521190010
Hardcover, 368 pages, 23.4 x 15.6 x 2.4 cm
Language: English
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 AnÃÂbal 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.
1. Introduction
2. A theory of regime change and durability
3. Competitive regimes and authoritarianism in Latin America, 1900–2010
4. Regime survival and fall
a quantitative test
5. From breakdowns to stabilization of democracy
Argentina
6. From persistent authoritarianism to democracy
El Salvador
7. International actors, international influences, and regime outcomes
8. The limits of the third wave, 1978–2010
9. Rethinking theories of democratization.
'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