Transitions from Authoritarian Rule

Latin America

Guillermo O'Donnell, Philippe C. Schmitter, Laurence Whitehead

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781421410203
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Latin American & Caribbean History
• Index: Politics & International Relations

An array of internationally noted scholars examines the process of democratization in southern Europe and Latin America. They provide new interpretations of both current and historical efforts of nations to end periods of authoritarian rule and to initiate transition to democracy, efforts that have met with widely varying degrees of success and failure. Extensive case studies of individual countries, a comparative overview, and a synthesis conclusions offer important insights for political scientists, students, and all concerned with the prospects for democracy. Political democracy is not the only possible outcome of transitions from authoritarianism. The authors draw out the implications of democracy as a goal and of the uncertainty inherent in transitional situations. Democratization is perhaps the central issue in Latin American politics today. Case studies focus on Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• 1. Introduction to the Latin American Cases
• 2. Political Cycles in Argentina since 1955
• 3. Bolivia’s Failed Democratization, 1977–1980
• 4. The “Liberalization” of Authoritarian Rule in Brazil
• 5. The Political Evolution of the Chilean Military Regime and Problems in the Transition to Democracy
• 6. Political Liberalization in an Authoritarian Regime: The Case of Mexico
• 7. Military Interventions and “Transfer of Power to Civilians” in Peru
• 8. Uruguay’s Transition from Collegial Military-Technocratic Rule
• 9. Petroleum and Political Pacts: The Transition to Democracy in Venezuela
• Notes
• Index