Democracy in Latin America : political change in comparative perspective / Peter H. Smith, University of California, San Diego with Cameron J. Sells, University of California, San Diego.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Peter H., author.

Sells, Cameron J., author.

Contributor:

Christine Hikawa Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democratization--Latin America.

Democratization.

Latin America.

Democracy--Latin America.

Democracy.

Latin America--Politics and government--1980-.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xxxii, 383 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

Third edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, [2017]

Summary:

Organized thematically-with a unique historical perspective-Democracy in Latin America provides a widespread view of political transformation throughout the entire region, The Third Edition of Democracy in Latin American Features: A thorough update of empirical information through 2015, New analysis of public opinion on the basis of raw survey data, Thoughtful evaluation of widespread claims that the "new Left" is in near-fatal decline, Exploration of subnational dimensions of democratization, An updated display of regime type for all countries Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I Historical Perspectives, 1900-2000

1 Cycles of Electoral Democracy 3

Legacies of Independence 4

Cycles and Trends 6

Global and Comparative Perspectives 15

Democratic Dominoes? 16

Subregional Variations and The Colossus of the North 17

Lessons Over Time: Earlier Experience 20

Democracy and Instability 22

2 Transitions and Continuities 29

Starting Points 30

Economic Requisites? 33

Social Forces 37

Cycle 1:1900-1939 39

Cycle 2:1940-1977 41

Cycle 3:1978-2000 43

End Games and Elite Bargains 46

The Bargaining Process 47

Getting to Cases 50

Patterns of Change in Perspective 52

3 The Military: Heading for the Exits? 57

Forging Fatherlands 58

Patterns of Participation 61

Missions and Regimes 64

Wars Against Subversion 67

The Democrats' Dilemma: To Amnesty or Not? 73

Precedents from Argentina 75

Chilean Twists 79

Justice Undone in Guatemala 82

Modes of Interaction: The Armed Forces and Democracy 85

Has The Military Left? 88

4 Global Contexts, International Forces 92

Imperialism and Democracy 93

The Anticommunist Crusades 96

Stemming the Tides of Revolution 99

Displacing Inconvenient Democracies 101

Economic Crisis 104

Optimism and Uncertainty: The 1990s 106

U.S. Policies 107

International Organizations 111

Part II The Electoral Arena

5 Presidents or Parliaments? 121

The Terms of Debate 121

Envisioning Alternatives 123

Pro-Parliamentary Arguments 126

Counterarguments 128

Semipresidentialism/Semiparliamentarism? 130

Attempts at Reform 130

Brazil: Voice of the Voters 131

Argentina: Calculating Political Odds 133

Chile: A Pact for Presidentialism 134

Why Not? 135

6 Institutional Designs 140

Executive Power 140

Means of Election 141

To Reelect or Not? 144

Sources of Power 146

The Legislative Branch 150

Electoral Systems and Rule? of Representation 151

Reelection and Term Limits 156

Institutional Performance 157

Toppling Presidents? 160

Parties and Party Systems 162

A Measure of Party Systems 162

Party-Voter Linkages 164

Subnational Governments 170

Local-Level Democracy 170

Federalism and National Legislatures 174

7 Elections: Voters, Winners, Losers 179

Expanding the Electorate 180

Participation 182

Competitiveness 189

The Range of Choice 190

Legacies of Bureaucratic-Authoritarianism 191

Effects of Military Populism 193

A Resurgence of the Left 197

Dilemmas of Democracy: Representation Versus Governance 203

Part III Qualities of Democracy

8 State Capacity and Policy Performance 213

The Latin American State: Roles and Capacities 214

Democracy Versus Dictatorship: General Hypotheses 218

The Politics of Economic Growth 220

Social Impacts: Health and Education 224

The Problem of Poverty 226

Inequality and Income Distribution 233

9 The Politics of Social Equity 238

Losing Ground: The Working Class 239

Signs of Hard Times 241

Zero-Sum Politics 245

Women: Moving Up 245

Patterns of Participation 247

Political Representation 249

Positions and Policies 253

Gathering Strength: Indigenous Peoples 255

Bolivia: Party Politics 256

Ecuador: Strength in Social Movements 258

Guatemala: Civil War and Genocide 260

10 Illiberal Democracy 266

Gradations of Democracy 267

Freedom of the Press 268

Antidefamation Laws and Policies 272

Analytical Overview 274

The Uneven Rule of Law 276

The Roles of Courts 282

The Changing Content of Electoral Democracy 284

Pathways to Full Democracy 286

11 The People's Verdict 292

The Concept of Political Culture 293

Democracy in Principle 298

The Relevance of Social Class 300

The Meaning of Democracy 302

Democracy in Practice 303

Case Study: Insights from Argentina 305

Political Ideology 306

Trust in Institutions 308

Roots of Disenchantment 309

Activism and Protest 312

Part IV Democracy Considered

12 The Dialectic of Democracy 317

Findings in Review 318

Changing Shapes of Democracy 321

Democracy in the Era of Mass Politics 324

1940-1977: Dangers of Democracy 324

1978-Present: Democracy Made Safe 327

1998-Presenl: Democracy Turns Left 330

The Resilience of Electoral Democracy 332

Demise of the New Left? 333.

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Christine Hikawa Fund.

ISBN:

9780190611347

0190611340

OCLC:

946254913