Promoting Democracy in the Americas - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0801886767 ISBN 13: 9780801886768

Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2007

Synopsis

Integrating comparative politics and international relations perspectives, this volume provides a critical analysis of the role of international and transnational actors in contemporary democratization processes in the Americas. It covers recent challenges to democracy in Venezuela, Haiti, and Ecuador along with current debates about election monitoring and democracy promotion within the Organization of American States.

The book provides up-to-date case studies―not available in any other text―of the major actors involved in recent democracy promotion activities in the Americas. The contributors focus on diverse themes related to efforts to strengthen democracy in the Americas and include fresh material on the role of regional powers other than the United States―specifically Brazil and Canada―in regional initiatives.

Showcasing cutting-edge theoretical debates, Promoting Democracy in the Americas offers a much needed reality check on whether international and transnational actors are indeed successful in their efforts to promote democracy and, if so, exactly what type of democracy they envision.

About this title

About the Author:

Thomas Legler is a professor of international studies at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico. Sharon F. Lean is an assistant professor of political science at Wayne State University. Dexter S. Boniface is an assistant professor of political science at Rollins College.

Review:

"This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the experience with democracy promotion in the Americas. It offers an up-to-date, engaging discussion, which balances theory and empirical analysis. An important contribution and a valuable analysis of a key normative question―how do we assist democracy?―that extracts lessons of great policy relevance. "

(Gerardo L. Munck, School of International Relations, University of Southern California, coauthor of Passion, Craft, and Method in Comparative Politics)

"This book is a comprehensive and solid analysis of the ups and downs of democracy promotion in the Americas. It shows how much the democracy cause has gained ground in the region since the historic 1991 OAS Santiago Commitment to Democracy, but it also demonstrates the failures and shortcomings of this process, as well as the challenges that lie ahead in the defense and promotion of representative democracy in the Americas. It is a fine guidebook for scholars and practitioners."

(Heraldo Muņoz, Ambassador of Chile to the United Nations)

"This timely volume assembles a diverse international team to cast light on the transnationalization of regime change in the Americas. Comparing OAS, state-based, and NGO promotion efforts across the region, this study expands our understanding of democracy beyond an electoral process―to include important dimensions of citizenship and accountability. Analytically, the interplay between structural and normative interpretations of democratization advances the constructivist approach to world politics."

(Alison Brysk, University of California, Irvine)

"A worthy successor to Tom Farer's seminal Beyond Sovereignty."

(Richard Feinberg Foreign Affairs)

"Excellent new volume."

(Jesse Lerner-Kinglake Bulletin of Latin American Research)

About this edition

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0801886767
• ISBN 13: 9780801886768
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 360
• Editor: Legler Thomas, Lean Sharon F., Boniface Dexter S.