Resisting Backsliding

In the past two decades, democratically elected executives across the world have used their popularity to push for legislation that, over time, destroys systems of checks and balances, hinders free and fair elections, and undermines political rights and civil liberties. Using and abusing institutions and institutional reform, some executives have transformed their countries' democracies into competitive authoritarian regimes. Others, however, have failed to erode democracy. What explains these different outcomes? Resisting Backsliding answers this question. With a focus on the cases of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Alvaro Uribe in Colombia, the book shows that the strategies and goals of the opposition are key to understanding why some executives successfully erode democracy and others do not. By highlighting the role of the opposition, this book emphasizes the importance of agency for understanding democratic backsliding and shows that even weak oppositions can defeat strong potential autocrats.

Author: Laura Gamboa
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 12/21/2022
Pages: 324
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.73d
ISBN13: 9781009164078
ISBN10: 1009164074
BISAC Categories:
- Political Science | Political Ideologies | Democracy