The Failure of Presidential Democracy

by Juan J. Linz (Editor), Arturo Valenzuela (Editor)

Overview

Citizens of the United States, heirs to two centuries of democratic government, tend to believe that presidentialism – rather than parliamentarism – is the political system that best ensures a stable democracy. In Latin America, however, where many governments have been modeled on that of the United States, presidentialism has had mixed success. In The Failure of Presidential Democracy Juan Linz and Arturo Valenzuela bring together leading scholars to examine the question of whether presidentialism or parliamentarism offers the best hope for stable government and democratic continuity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801846403
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	02/01/1994
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Juan J. Linz is Sterling Professor Emeritus of Political and Social Science at Yale University. In addition to the works coauthored and coedited with Professor Stepan, Professor Linz has published works on democracy, democratization, and comparative politics, including Sultanistic Regimes, also published by Johns Hopkins.

Table of Contents

Preface
Part I. Introduction
1. Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy: Does It Make a Difference?
Part II. Theoretical Perspectives and the Semipresidential Case of France
2. Presidentialism and Majoritarian Democracy: Theoretical Observations
3. Neither Presidentialism nor Parliamentarism
4. Presidentialism and Parlimentarism in Comparative Perspective
5. Presidentialism and Political Stability in France
Notes on Contributors
Index

What People are Saying About This

Paul W. Drake

With a superb cast of contributors and a well-chosen sample of countries, The Failure of Presidential Democracy treats a central issue in the world today, as more and more countries try to construct durable democracies. It also reflects the new emphasis in political science on institutions, an area that has been sorely neglected in Latin American studies. Indeed, the book fills a huge informational and analytical gap on institutional arrangements in Latin American political systems. This is a stimulating, thoughtful, and relevant book—well suited to classroom use in courses on comparative politics and Latin American politics.

From the Publisher

With a superb cast of contributors and a well-chosen sample of countries, The Failure of Presidential Democracy treats a central issue in the world today, as more and more countries try to construct durable democracies. It also reflects the new emphasis in political science on institutions, an area that has been sorely neglected in Latin American studies. Indeed, the book fills a huge informational and analytical gap on institutional arrangements in Latin American political systems. This is a stimulating, thoughtful, and relevant book—well suited to classroom use in courses on comparative politics and Latin American politics.
—Paul W. Drake, University of California, San Diego

Editorial Reviews

This book is already a classic and is bound to be widely read and cited for many years to come.
—Matthew Soberg Shugart, Journal of Democracy

An impressive and valuable book, with a first-class roster of contributors, and rewards a careful reading.
—Martin C. Needler, Studies in Comparative International Development

From the Publisher

An impressive and valuable book, with a first-class roster of contributors, and rewards a careful reading.

Studies in Comparative International Development - Martin C. Needler

This book is already a classic and is bound to be widely read and cited for many years to come.

Journal of Democracy - Matthew Soberg Shugart

An impressive and valuable book, with a first-class roster of contributors, and rewards a careful reading.

— Martin C. Needler

Studies in Comparative International Development

This book is already a classic and is bound to be widely read and cited for many years to come.

— Matthew Soberg Shugart

Journal of Democracy

Emerging primarily from a research symposium entitled "Presidential or Parliamentary Democracy: Does It Make a Difference?" held at Georgetown U. in May 1989, this volume contains an introductory chapter by editor Linz (presented at a different conference, "Constitution Making as an Instrument of Democratic Tradition," held in October 1992), followed by 11 papers organized in two parts: theoretical perspectives and the semipresidential case of France; and the experience of Latin American presidentialism. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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