Issues in Democratic Consolidation

"Seven leading scholars, all associated with Notre Dame's Kellogg Institute for International Studies, have contributed to this path-breaking symposium volume on the second stage of South America's contemporary transitions toward democratic governance. They emphasize the enormous difficulties of consolidating democratic practice, arising from vast social inequalities, the lingering strength of antidemocratic groups and forces, continuities of political actors and prevalent styles from the authoritarian period, weak political institutions and recalcitrant military leaders. But the book’s fundamental animus is that democratic governance can be achieved and that independent scholarly critiques can contribute to its nurturing.” —Foreign Affairs

“. . . This volume makes an important contribution to the study of transitions and democratic consolidation. The overall conclusion of the book, namely that the new democracies of South America do not seem to be moving ahead towards democratic consolidation, seems to be well-taken and supported by up to date evidence. . . .” —Journal of Latin American Studies

“While much has been written of late on the issue of democratization, the approach here has two advantages over many of its competitors. First, it is tightly focused geographically, confining itself almost entirely to South American cases. . . . Second, and more importantly, the authors all concern themselves with the same theme, namely what the editors term ‘the second transition to democracy.’ In the first transition, authoritarian rule breaks down and governments are elected by universal suffrage and under conditions of respect for civil liberties. The second transition is the process by which these elected governments are consolidated. The book the, as the title states, is a study of the process of democratic consolidation. . . . [It] gives us many critical signposts to follow in attempting to predict the course of the second transition, the one to stable democracy.” —American Political Science Review

". . . This volume promises to remain one of the seminal guides for research on democratic politics in Latin America. The intriguing insights and the significance of the questions posed should concern both students of Latin American politics and those who wise up to track the evolution of democratic politics into the next century.” —National Political Science Review

“. . . This is an excellent volume that will help readers understand the dramatic changes reshaping political life throughout the globe at the close of the twentieth century. . . . [It] is a sobering and essential volume, reminding us of the risks the new democratic regimes face. . . . Readers seeking some first-rate thinking about these issues will be well served with the essays. . . .” —Political Science Quarterly