Presidents and Democracy in Latin America

ISBN-13: 9781138082090 / Angielski / Miękka / 2017 / 266 str.

Jean Blondel; Manuel Alcantara; Jean-Louis Thiebault

Opis

This new textbook provides students with a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the presidents and presidential leadership in Latin America. Unlike other texts, Presidents and Democracy in Latin America integrates both political analysis and major theoretical perspectives with extensive country-specific material. Part One examines the developments in recent years in Latin American presidentialism and identifies different characteristics of society and politics which have influenced Latin American governments. The personalization of political life and of presidential government help to illustrate the character of Latin American politics, specifically on the type of political career of those who occupied the presidential office, the leadership style of these presidents and the type of government which they led. Part Two studies two presidents in six countries in the region which reflect the broad trends in the political and electoral life: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Each case study first provides the biographical background of the president; it outlines the political career of the president both inside and outside of a party, including at the local level; the popularity of the president at the time of the presidential election is given, as well as the mode of selection of the candidates (selection by party leaders only, by party members or by a primary). The relation of the president with the government or ministers, especially if there is a coalition government, is detailed. This textbook will be essential reading for all students of Latin American Politics and highly recommended for those studying executive politics, political leadership, and the state of democratic governance in Latin America.

Spis treści

Part 1: Presidentialism and Political Capital in Latin America  1. Politics in Latin America in the Past Third of a Century (1978-2015) [Manuel Alcántara]  2. Presidential Leadership in Latin America  [Jean-Louis Thiébault]  3. The Character of the ‘Government’ in Latin American Presidential Republics [Jean Blondel]  4. Political Career Trajectories and Social Backgrounds: Latin American Presidents in Comparative Perspective (1978-2015) [Manuel Alcántara, Mélany Barragán and Francisco Sánchez]  Part 2: Personal Power and Institutional Constraints: Case Studies  5. Mexico. Zedillo and Calderón: The Challenges of Governing under Adversity [Marisol Reyes]  6. Colombia. Political Leadership in a Turbulent Environment. César Gaviria and Álvaro Uribe Vélez [Javier Duque]  7. The singularity of Peruvian Politics and the Role of Presidential Leadership. The Cases of Alberto Fujimori and Alan García [Martín Tanaka and Jorge Morel]  8. Presidential Leadership in a Robust Presidency: the Brazilian Case [Magna Inácio]  9. Menem and Kirchner. The Two Faces of Peronism? [Mario D. Serrafero]  10. The Presidential Government of Chile [Carlos Huneeus] 11. Conclusion