Comparative Politics of Latin America: Democracy at Last?

by Daniel C. Hellinger

Overview

This new edition brings Daniel C. Hellinger’s brilliantly succinct and accessible introduction to Latin America up to date for a new generation of educators. In crisp detail, Hellinger gives a panoramic overview of the continent and offers a unique balance of comparative politics theory and interdisciplinary country-specific context, of a thematic organization and in-depth country case studies, of culture and economics, of scholarship and pedagogy. Insightful historical background in early chapters provides students with ways to think about how the past influences the present. However, while history plays a part in this text, comparative politics is the primary focus, explaining through fully integrated, detailed case studies and carefully paced analysis. Country-specific narratives are integrated with concepts and theories from comparative politics, leading to a richer understanding of both.

Updates to this new edition include:

• Revisiting contemporary populism and the global emergence of right-wing populism.

• The pros and cons of extractivism; the impact of Chinese investment and trade.

• Contemporary crisis in Venezuela; expanded treatment of Colombia and Peru.

• The role of the military; LGBTQ+ issues; corruption; violence; identity issues.

• New sections on social media, artificial intelligence, and big data cyber technologies.

• Examination of post-Castro Cuba; Costa Rica’s exceptionalism.

• Broader study of environmental movements; how governments relate to social movements.

• Examination of personalist parties; refugee and asylum rights.

• Interventionist policies of the current U.S. administration.

• Early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparative Politics of Latin America is a thoughtful, ambitious, and thorough introductory textbook for students beginning Latin American Studies at the undergraduate level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000220650
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/22/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	666
File size:	8 MB

About the Author

Daniel C. Hellinger is Professor Emeritus of International Relations, Webster University. His other books include Venezuela: Tarnished Democracy (1991); Venezuelan Politics in the Chávez Era (2001), and Bolivarian Democracy in Venezuela (2011). He has held Fulbright awards at the Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile, and the Autonomous University of Madrid and has been a visiting scholar at St. Antony's College, Oxford, the Central University of Venezuela, and Shanghai Institute for Finance and Economics.

Table of Contents

Introduction. Latin American Studies and the Comparative Study of Democracy Part 1: Comparative Politics, Democratic Theory, and Latin American Area Studies 1. Conceptions of Democracy 2. The Few and the Many: Inequality in Latin American Politics Part 2: Historical Legacies, Mass Politics, and Democracy 3. Democratic and Autocratic Threads before Columbus and in Colonial Latin America 4. Political without Economic Independence 5. Populism, Development, and Democracy in the Twentieth Century 6. Development and Dependency: Theory and Practice in Latin America Part 3: Regimes and Transitions in Latin America 7. Democratic Breakdown and Military Rule 8. Transitions from Party-Dominant Regimes: Mexico and Venezuela 9. Democracy in Times of Revolution 10. Civilians and Soldiers in Illiberal Times Part 4: Civil Society, Institutions, Human Rights 11. Social Class and Social Movements in Latin America 12. Parties, Media, and Left-Right Populism 13. Institutions, Constitutions and Constituent Power 14. Human Rights, Corruption, and the Rule of Law Part 5: Latin America in the World 15. Democracy in Times of Globalization 16. No One’s "Backyard" Anymore? Afterward

Editorial Reviews

"Like no other, Hellinger’s book incisively analyzes the complexities of Latin American politics and development. It allows students to develop the analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as the empathy, needed to comprehend the region today. This third edition will continue to be an essential tool for students and practitioners at all levels."

Angelo Rivero Santos, Center for Latin American Studies, Georgetown University

"The organization of this book around the contemporary themes of democracy, inclusion, social justice and development, both motivates and fits perfectly with the learning needs of students in global studies and international development programs. This is my go-to textbook."

Paul A. Haslam, University of Ottawa

"I highly recommend this text for undergraduate Latin American politics classes. The conversational style is attractive and accessible to students. The thematic approach, with country illustrations, identifies the important challenges and progress, while keeping students from getting bogged down in a country-by-country approach. The comparative approach and the highlighting of competing scholarly views helps to develop student analytical skills. Updated to 2020, it even includes the pandemic crisis"

Jennifer McCoy, Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

"This Third Edition of Dan Hellinger's Comparative Politics of Latin America is a great introductory text for students interested in Latin American politics. The focus of the text is on questions that are specific to Comparative Politics but it does not neglect the role of history, culture, socio-economic, and international issues which all contribute to the diversity of Latin American politics. This new edition gives particular attention to questions related to understanding the political and economic crises have contributed to deep and immediate challenges to democracy in the region."

Tony Spanakos, Monclair State University

"This new edition takes an already outstanding textbook and advances it in a timely and meaningful way. In the last decade, Latin America has changed in ways that have forced scholars and policymakers to rethink how critical aspects of democracy and development work (or don’t) in the region. Hellinger has ably recast the entire text in light of the growing awareness of shortcomings and opportunities in dominant political and economic models, and this book helps us see the region in fresh, and insightful, perspective."

Matthew Carnes, Associate Professor of Government, Georgetown University

From the Publisher