Description
Book SynopsisThis 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.
Trade Review'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
Table of Contents1. 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.
