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Democracies and Dictatorships in Latin America

Emergence, Survival, and Fall

Scott Mainwaring author Aníbal Pérez-Liñán author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:31st Jan '14

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Democracies and Dictatorships in Latin America cover

Presents a new theory for why democracies and dictatorships emerge and then survive or collapse via analyses of political regimes in Latin America since 1900.

This book presents a new theory for why democracies and dictatorships emerge and then either survive or collapse. Scott Mainwaring and Aníbal Pérez-Liñán analyze the survival of political regimes in Latin America since 1900, arguing for a theory of democratization situated between explanations that emphasize long-term structural preconditions and short-term decisions by specific leaders.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 Aníbal 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.

'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

  • Winner of Donna Lee Van Cott Book Award, Political Institutions Section, Latin American Studies Association 2014
  • Joint winner of Best Book Award, Comparative Democratization Section, American Political Science Association 2014

ISBN: 9780521152242

Dimensions: 226mm x 152mm x 25mm

Weight: 500g

368 pages