A Middle-Quality Institutional Trap: Democracy and State Capacity in Latin America

A Middle-Quality Institutional Trap: Democracy and State Capacity in Latin America

Author: Sebastián L. Mazzuca

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2021-02-11

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13: 1108871577

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Latin America is currently caught in a middle-quality institutional trap, combining flawed democracies and low-to-medium capacity States. Yet, contrary to conventional wisdom, the sequence of development - Latin America has democratized before building capable States - does not explain the region's quandary. States can make democracy, but so too can democracy make States. Thus, the starting point of political developments is less important than whether the State-democracy relationship is a virtuous cycle, triggering causal mechanisms that reinforce each other. However, the State-democracy interaction generates a virtuous cycle only under certain macroconditions. In Latin America, the State-democracy interaction has not generated a virtuous cycle: problems regarding the State prevent full democratization and problems of democracy prevent the development of state capacity. Moreover, multiple macroconditions provide a foundation for this distinctive pattern of State-democracy interaction. The suboptimal political equilibrium in contemporary Latin America is a robust one.


Book Synopsis A Middle-Quality Institutional Trap: Democracy and State Capacity in Latin America by : Sebastián L. Mazzuca

Download or read book A Middle-Quality Institutional Trap: Democracy and State Capacity in Latin America written by Sebastián L. Mazzuca and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2021-02-11 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Latin America is currently caught in a middle-quality institutional trap, combining flawed democracies and low-to-medium capacity States. Yet, contrary to conventional wisdom, the sequence of development - Latin America has democratized before building capable States - does not explain the region's quandary. States can make democracy, but so too can democracy make States. Thus, the starting point of political developments is less important than whether the State-democracy relationship is a virtuous cycle, triggering causal mechanisms that reinforce each other. However, the State-democracy interaction generates a virtuous cycle only under certain macroconditions. In Latin America, the State-democracy interaction has not generated a virtuous cycle: problems regarding the State prevent full democratization and problems of democracy prevent the development of state capacity. Moreover, multiple macroconditions provide a foundation for this distinctive pattern of State-democracy interaction. The suboptimal political equilibrium in contemporary Latin America is a robust one.

Latin American Politics and Society

Latin American Politics and Society

Author: Gerardo L. Munck

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2022-06-09

Total Pages: 649

ISBN-13: 110886080X

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Taking a fresh thematic approach to politics and society in Latin America, this introductory textbook analyzes the region's past and present in an accessible and engaging style well-suited to undergraduate students. The book provides historical insights into modern states and critical issues they are facing, with insightful analyses that are supported by empirical data, maps and timelines. Drawing upon cutting-edge research, the text considers critical topics relevant to all countries within the region such as the expansion of democracy and citizenship rights and responses to human rights abuses, corruption, and violence. Each richly illustrated chapter contains a compelling and cohesive narrative, followed by thought-provoking questions and further reading suggestions, making this text a vital resource for anyone encountering the complexities of Latin American politics for the first time in their studies.


Book Synopsis Latin American Politics and Society by : Gerardo L. Munck

Download or read book Latin American Politics and Society written by Gerardo L. Munck and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2022-06-09 with total page 649 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Taking a fresh thematic approach to politics and society in Latin America, this introductory textbook analyzes the region's past and present in an accessible and engaging style well-suited to undergraduate students. The book provides historical insights into modern states and critical issues they are facing, with insightful analyses that are supported by empirical data, maps and timelines. Drawing upon cutting-edge research, the text considers critical topics relevant to all countries within the region such as the expansion of democracy and citizenship rights and responses to human rights abuses, corruption, and violence. Each richly illustrated chapter contains a compelling and cohesive narrative, followed by thought-provoking questions and further reading suggestions, making this text a vital resource for anyone encountering the complexities of Latin American politics for the first time in their studies.

The Politics of Institutional Weakness in Latin America

The Politics of Institutional Weakness in Latin America

Author: Daniel M. Brinks

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2020-06-11

Total Pages: 359

ISBN-13: 1108489338

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Rather than an unintended by-product of poor state capacity, weak political and legal institutions are often weak by design.


Book Synopsis The Politics of Institutional Weakness in Latin America by : Daniel M. Brinks

Download or read book The Politics of Institutional Weakness in Latin America written by Daniel M. Brinks and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2020-06-11 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rather than an unintended by-product of poor state capacity, weak political and legal institutions are often weak by design.

Democracy and Security in Latin America

Democracy and Security in Latin America

Author: Gabriel Marcella

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-11-05

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1000459098

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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for governments to generate the necessary capacity to address important security and institutional challenges; this volume deepens our understanding of the nature and extent of state governance in Latin America. State capacity is multidimensional, with all elements interacting to produce stable governance and security. As such, a collection of scholars and practitioners use an explicit interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the contributions of history, political science, economics, public policy, military studies, and other fields to gain a rounded understanding of the link between security and democracy. Democracy and Security in Latin America is divided in two sections: Part 1 focuses on the challenges to governance and key institutions such as police, courts, armed forces. and the prison system. Part 2 features country case studies that illustrate particularly important security challenges and various means by which the state has confronted them. Democracy and Security in Latin America should appeal not only to those seeking to learn more about the capacity of the democratic state in Latin America to effectively provide public security in times of stress, but to all those curious about the reality that a democracy must have security to function.


Book Synopsis Democracy and Security in Latin America by : Gabriel Marcella

Download or read book Democracy and Security in Latin America written by Gabriel Marcella and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-11-05 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for governments to generate the necessary capacity to address important security and institutional challenges; this volume deepens our understanding of the nature and extent of state governance in Latin America. State capacity is multidimensional, with all elements interacting to produce stable governance and security. As such, a collection of scholars and practitioners use an explicit interdisciplinary approach, drawing on the contributions of history, political science, economics, public policy, military studies, and other fields to gain a rounded understanding of the link between security and democracy. Democracy and Security in Latin America is divided in two sections: Part 1 focuses on the challenges to governance and key institutions such as police, courts, armed forces. and the prison system. Part 2 features country case studies that illustrate particularly important security challenges and various means by which the state has confronted them. Democracy and Security in Latin America should appeal not only to those seeking to learn more about the capacity of the democratic state in Latin America to effectively provide public security in times of stress, but to all those curious about the reality that a democracy must have security to function.

Latin American State Building in Comparative Perspective

Latin American State Building in Comparative Perspective

Author: Marcus J. Kurtz

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2013-03-25

Total Pages: 287

ISBN-13: 0521766443

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This book provides an account of long-run institutional development in Latin America that emphasizes the social and political foundations of state-building processes.


Book Synopsis Latin American State Building in Comparative Perspective by : Marcus J. Kurtz

Download or read book Latin American State Building in Comparative Perspective written by Marcus J. Kurtz and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013-03-25 with total page 287 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides an account of long-run institutional development in Latin America that emphasizes the social and political foundations of state-building processes.

Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America

Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America

Author: Jorge I. Domínguez

Publisher: JHU Press

Published: 2013-07-31

Total Pages: 404

ISBN-13: 1421409798

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After more than a century of assorted dictatorships and innumerable fiscal crises, the majority of Latin America's states are governed today by constitutional democratic regimes. Some analysts and scholars argue that Latin America weathered the 2008 fiscal crisis much better than the United States. How did this happen? Jorge I. Domínguez and Michael Shifter asked area specialists to examine the electoral and governance factors that shed light on this transformation and the region's prospects. They gather their findings in the fourth edition of Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America. This new edition is completely updated. Part I is thematic, covering issues of media, constitutionalism, the commodities boom, and fiscal management vis-à-vis governance. Part II focuses on eight important countries in the region—Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. Already widely used in courses, Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America will continue to interest students of Latin American politics, democratization studies, and comparative politics as well as policymakers.


Book Synopsis Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America by : Jorge I. Domínguez

Download or read book Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America written by Jorge I. Domínguez and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2013-07-31 with total page 404 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After more than a century of assorted dictatorships and innumerable fiscal crises, the majority of Latin America's states are governed today by constitutional democratic regimes. Some analysts and scholars argue that Latin America weathered the 2008 fiscal crisis much better than the United States. How did this happen? Jorge I. Domínguez and Michael Shifter asked area specialists to examine the electoral and governance factors that shed light on this transformation and the region's prospects. They gather their findings in the fourth edition of Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America. This new edition is completely updated. Part I is thematic, covering issues of media, constitutionalism, the commodities boom, and fiscal management vis-à-vis governance. Part II focuses on eight important countries in the region—Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. Already widely used in courses, Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America will continue to interest students of Latin American politics, democratization studies, and comparative politics as well as policymakers.

When Democracies Deliver

When Democracies Deliver

Author: Katherine Bersch

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2019-01-17

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 1108644902

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Why do governance reforms in developing democracies so often fail, and when might they succeed? When Democracies Deliver offers a dynamic framework for assessing the effectiveness and durability of policy change. Drawing on detailed analyses of public sector reforms in Brazil and Argentina, this book challenges conventional wisdom to reveal that incremental changes sequenced over time prove more effective in promoting accountability, increasing transparency, and strengthening institutions than comprehensive overhauls pushed through by political will. Developing an innovative theory that integrates cognitive-psychological insights about decision making with research on institutional change, Katherine Bersch shows how political and organizational factors can shape reform strategies and information processing. Through extensive interviews and field research, Bersch traces how two competing strategies have determined the different trajectories of institutions responsible for government contracting in health care and transportation. When Democracies Deliver offers a fresh insight on the perils of powering and the benefits of gradual reform.


Book Synopsis When Democracies Deliver by : Katherine Bersch

Download or read book When Democracies Deliver written by Katherine Bersch and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-01-17 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why do governance reforms in developing democracies so often fail, and when might they succeed? When Democracies Deliver offers a dynamic framework for assessing the effectiveness and durability of policy change. Drawing on detailed analyses of public sector reforms in Brazil and Argentina, this book challenges conventional wisdom to reveal that incremental changes sequenced over time prove more effective in promoting accountability, increasing transparency, and strengthening institutions than comprehensive overhauls pushed through by political will. Developing an innovative theory that integrates cognitive-psychological insights about decision making with research on institutional change, Katherine Bersch shows how political and organizational factors can shape reform strategies and information processing. Through extensive interviews and field research, Bersch traces how two competing strategies have determined the different trajectories of institutions responsible for government contracting in health care and transportation. When Democracies Deliver offers a fresh insight on the perils of powering and the benefits of gradual reform.

Latecomer State Formation

Latecomer State Formation

Author: Sebastian Mazzuca

Publisher: Yale University Press

Published: 2021-05-11

Total Pages: 461

ISBN-13: 0300258615

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A major contribution to the field of comparative state formation and the scholarship on long-term political development of Latin America “Ambitious and rich. . . . A sweeping and general theory of state formation and detailed historical reconstruction of essential events in Latin American political development. It combines structural elements with a novel emphasis on the political incentives and bargaining that shaped the map we have today.”—Hillel David Soifer, Governance Latin American governments systematically fail to provide the key public goods for their societies to prosper. Sebastián Mazzuca argues that the secret of Latin America’s failure is that its states were “born weak,” in contrast to states in western Europe, North America, and Japan. State formation in post-Independence Latin America occurred in a period when capitalism, rather than war, was the key driver forging countries. In pursuing the short-term benefits of international trade, Latin American leaders created states with chronic weaknesses, notably patrimonial administrations and dysfunctional regional combinations. Mazzuca analyzes pathways leading to variations in country size and level of pacification: “port-led” state formation in Argentina and Brazil; “party-led” in Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay; and “lord-led” in Central America, Venezuela, and Peru.


Book Synopsis Latecomer State Formation by : Sebastian Mazzuca

Download or read book Latecomer State Formation written by Sebastian Mazzuca and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2021-05-11 with total page 461 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A major contribution to the field of comparative state formation and the scholarship on long-term political development of Latin America “Ambitious and rich. . . . A sweeping and general theory of state formation and detailed historical reconstruction of essential events in Latin American political development. It combines structural elements with a novel emphasis on the political incentives and bargaining that shaped the map we have today.”—Hillel David Soifer, Governance Latin American governments systematically fail to provide the key public goods for their societies to prosper. Sebastián Mazzuca argues that the secret of Latin America’s failure is that its states were “born weak,” in contrast to states in western Europe, North America, and Japan. State formation in post-Independence Latin America occurred in a period when capitalism, rather than war, was the key driver forging countries. In pursuing the short-term benefits of international trade, Latin American leaders created states with chronic weaknesses, notably patrimonial administrations and dysfunctional regional combinations. Mazzuca analyzes pathways leading to variations in country size and level of pacification: “port-led” state formation in Argentina and Brazil; “party-led” in Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay; and “lord-led” in Central America, Venezuela, and Peru.

Informal Institutions and Democracy

Informal Institutions and Democracy

Author: Gretchen Helmke

Publisher: JHU Press

Published: 2006-08-28

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 0801883512

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"The volume emerged out of two conferences on informal institutions. The first, entitled 'Informal Institutions and Politics in the Developing World, ' was held at Harvard University in April 2002 ... The second conference, entitled 'Informal Institutions and Politics in Latin America: Understanding the Rules of the Game, ' was held at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, in April 2003"--Pref


Book Synopsis Informal Institutions and Democracy by : Gretchen Helmke

Download or read book Informal Institutions and Democracy written by Gretchen Helmke and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2006-08-28 with total page 362 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The volume emerged out of two conferences on informal institutions. The first, entitled 'Informal Institutions and Politics in the Developing World, ' was held at Harvard University in April 2002 ... The second conference, entitled 'Informal Institutions and Politics in Latin America: Understanding the Rules of the Game, ' was held at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame, in April 2003"--Pref

The State of State Reform

The State of State Reform

Author: Eduardo Lora

Publisher: Stanford University Press

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 474

ISBN-13: 9780804755290

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This book reviews state reforms in Latin America since the mid-1980s.


Book Synopsis The State of State Reform by : Eduardo Lora

Download or read book The State of State Reform written by Eduardo Lora and published by Stanford University Press. This book was released on 2007 with total page 474 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book reviews state reforms in Latin America since the mid-1980s.