In Latin America as elsewhere, politicians routinely face a painful dilemma: whether to use state resources for national purposes, especially those that foster economic development, or to channel resources to people and projects that will help insure political survival and reelection. While politicians may believe that a competent state bureaucracy is intrinsic to the national good, political realities invariably tempt leaders to reward powerful clients and constituents, undermining long-term competence. Politician's Dilemma explores the ways in which political actors deal with these...

This book explains how dictatorships rise, survive, and fall, along with why some but not all dictators wield vast powers.

This book explains how dictatorships rise, survive, and fall, along with why some but not all dictators wield vast powers.