Description
Book SynopsisThe democratization of the national government is only the first step in diffusing democracy throughout a country's territory. After a national government is democratized, subnational authoritarian 'enclaves' often continue to deny rights to citizens of local jurisdictions. Gibson explains how subnational authoritarianism is part of normal democratic politics.
Trade Review'Gibson's conceptualization of boundary control as a key mechanism that facilitates the maintenance of subnational authoritarianism in the context of national level democracies is a foundational contribution to an important and growing literature. The explanation of dynamics in three very different cases - the 'Solid South' in the United States, Argentina and Mexico - is compelling, and the book is beautifully written. This is a must read for anybody interested in the complexities of democratization.' Evelyne Huber, Morehead Alumni Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
'This is an imaginative and path-breaking book. The conceptual and theoretical work Gibson accomplishes will help usher in a new scholarly conversation made even more urgent by the uneven nature of democratizations since the 'third wave'. By taking a subnational turn in thinking about regime change, Gibson reveals how the rise of authoritarian rule and its demise are often much more complex and contradictory processes than we had realized. Comparativists - including their less parochial Americanist colleagues - can make great use of what Gibson has achieved.' Robert Mickey, University of Michigan
'Professor Gibson's ambitious new book involves a far-reaching reassessment of some core assumptions in comparative politics. It contests the bias toward the 'national-level' unit of analysis, and proposes a more conceptually sophisticated understanding of territorial politics, with its specific logic and consequences. This approach is grounded on an insightful examination of some major instances that are not normally juxtaposed. In particular, Gibson looks at the US political system through a distinctive and illuminating comparative lens. This is a bold contribution likely to provoke a lively debate.' Laurence Whitehead, University of Oxford
'By opening up the black box of subnational politics, and problematizing the interaction between national and territorial regimes, Gibson provides an important contribution to the comparative study of democratization. Summing up: highly recommended.' S. P. Duffy, Choice
'Gibson concurs in emphasizing the importance of whether a given federal system is 'municipal-empowering' or 'province-empowering,' and identifies 'plural cities' as potential problem sites for provincial authoritarians.' Kent Eaton, Latin American Research Review
Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Territorial politics and subnational democratization: charting the theoretical landscape; 3. Subnational authoritarianism in the United States: boundary control and the 'Solid South'; 4. Boundary control in democratizing Argentina; 5. Boundary control in democratizing Mexico; 6. Boundary control: comparisons and conclusions.
