Latin American Politics

Eduardo Alemán - University of Houston, USA

Courses:
Politics of Latin America | Politics of Latin America

August 2020 | 440 pages | CQ Press

While it is true that poverty, political instability, and economic under-performance continue to be major problems in Latin America, the region has made substantial progress in raising standards of living and overcoming military authoritarianism. Latin American Politics reflects just how much the region has changed in the last two decades. Eduardo Alemán draws on contemporary research in comparative studies on institutions, elections, and public opinion to highlight the big questions that political scientists seek to answer today: What are the causes of political instability? What factors have influenced changes in economic and gender inequality? What are the implications of different political institutions for political outcomes?

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List of Figures

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Part I – Background

Chapter 1: Colonial Legacy and the Post-Independence Period

Colonial Latin America

Independence and the Struggle for Political Order

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Chapter 2: Political Regimes and Democratic Stability

What is Democracy?

Regime Transitions and Democratic Survival

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Chapter 3: Guerrillas and Revolutions

Guerrilla Movements in Latin America

The Cuban Revolution

The Nicaraguan Revolution

Failed Revolutions in El Salvador and Guatemala

Guerrillas and the Peace Process in Colombia

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Chapter 4: U.S.–Latin American Relations

The Cold War

The Aftermath of the Cold War

The Early 21st Century

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Part II – Institutions

Chapter 5: Latin American Presidentialism

Presidentialism and Its Critique

Constitutional Variations in Latin American Presidentialism

Differences between U.S. and Latin American Presidentialism

Presidential Instability

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Chapter 6: Legislatures in Latin America

The Legislative Branch

Organization

Legislative Voting Behavior

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Chapter 7: Elections and Electoral Rules

Suffrage Extensions

Compulsory Voting

Rules for Electing Presidents

Rules for Electing Members of Congress

The Consequences of Congressional Electoral Rules

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Chapter 8: The Judiciary

Judicial Independence

Judicial Authority

Perceptions of the Judiciary

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Part III – Political Attitudes, Policies, and Outcomes

Chapter 9: Political Culture

Support for Democracy

Confidence in Institutions and Interpersonal Trust

Ideological Positions

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Chapter 10: Corruption

Corruption

Efforts to Combat Corruption

Measuring Corruption

Corruption Scandals

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Chapter 11: Civil Liberties and Press Freedom

What Are Civil Liberties?

The Right to Life and Liberty

Free Expression, Peaceful Assembly, and Religious Freedom

Press Freedom

Property Rights

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Chapter 12: Income Inequality, Poverty, and the Gender Gap

Income Inequality

The Gender Gap

Conclusions

Key Terms

Bibliographic Recommendations

Web Resources

Glossary

Notes

Index

This book does an excellent job of striking a balance between covering breath of the region and providing in-depth examples from individual countries. Further it represents broad trends uncovered in political science research while using numerous examples to clearly illustrate the concepts and social science findings.

Tiffany D. Barnes

University of Kentucky

Review

Latin American Politics offers its readers a unique approach to an old topic. Through systematically analyzing the politics of the region and synthesizing it for its readers, this book is sure to offer something great.

T. Adam Golob

University of South Florida

Review

Eduardo Aleman’s book is a very comprehensive contribution for the study of Latin American politics. It tackles the most relevant dimensions of analysis for the region with historical depth, consistent empirical sources, and genuine simplicity. While developing a clear argumentative line, the book also incorporates the most salient works in political science over the region, along with valuable perspectives from other disciplines.

It is noteworthy how it successfully integrates discussions on historical legacies, social movements, political institutions, and attitudes of Latin Americans; building up a useful resource for subjects interested in the region. Students and professors of Latin America will greatly enjoy the systematic approach utilized in the book.

Juan Pablo Micozzi

Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)

Key features

KEY FEATURES

Tables and Figures illustrate important aspects of data on Latin American views of democracy, authoritarianism, government institutions, and political behavior and attitudes, which the narrative sets into wider context.
Case Studies in each chapter illuminate aspects of political culture and provide a basis from which to understand the data discussed and how it relates to actions and events in Latin America.
Each chapter concludes with suggested readings, a list of keywords, and, where appropriate, web links that students can access to expand their knowledge and use in their own research.
References throughout the book offer a useful bibliography of scholarly work on the main topics addressed in each chapter.
Glossary. All key terms are defined in a comprehensive glossary located at the end of the book.

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