Why is there so much discontent with democracy across Latin America? Are regimes being judged by unrealistic standards of success—or is there legitimate cause for criticism in light of widespread failures to deliver either transparency or effective public policies? Addressing these questions across a variety of dimensions, the authors explore the diverse ways in which the specific nature of Latin American democracy explains the current performance of the region's democratic governments.
Joe Foweraker is honorary professor of politics at the University of Exeter, as well as emeritus fellow of St Antony's College at the University of Oxford, where he previously was professor of Latin American politics. Dolores Trevizo is professor of sociology at Occidental College. She is author of Rural Protest and the Making of Democracy in Mexico, 1968-2000.
"[T]his book manages to contrast precisely very different realities to answer one main question, how democratic is Latin America?"—Tomás Dodds, Latin American Policy
"[A] valuable contribution to the study of democracy and democratization in post-transition Latin America."—Stefano Palestini, Democratization
"Offers superb analyses of the performance of the region’s democracies across a broad array of key dimensions."—Mark P. Jones, Rice University
"Each chapter shows mastery of its subject matter, and each is well written."—John Peeler, Bucknell University
