Rethinking party systems in the third wave of democratization : the case of Brazil

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Bibliographic Information

Rethinking party systems in the third wave of democratization : the case of Brazil

Scott P. Mainwaring

Stanford University Press, 1999

  • : cloth
  • : pbk

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Includes bibliographical references (p. [359]-380) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: cloth ISBN 9780804730570

Description

Among the many countries that underwent transitions to democracy in recent decades, only Russia is as important to the United States and the world as Brazil. The fifth-largest country and population in the world, with nearly one-half the inhabitants of Latin America, Brazil has the world's ninth-richest economy. Given the nation's size and influence, its capacity to achieve stable democracy and economic growth will have global impact. Understanding democracy in Brazil is therefore a crucial task, one which this book undertakes. Theoretically, the author argues that most party systems in the third wave of democratization, after 1974, have distinctive features that require us to reformulate theories about party systems generally; previous works have paid scant attention to the importance of variance in the degree of institutionalization of party systems. The author also argues that many third-wave cases underscore the need to focus on the capacity of the state and political elites to structure and restructure party systems from below. Empirically, the author studies the Brazilian party system and democratization, with particular reference to the 1979-96 period. He underscores the weakness of the party system and the resulting problems of democratization. He argues that the party system is poorly institutionalized, explores the reasons for the difficulties of party building, and addresses the consequences of weak institutionalization, which leads him to reaffirm the central significance of parties in the face of widespread skepticism about their importance.

Table of Contents

Tables abbreviations of the main political parties, 1979-96 Part I. Rethinking Part systems Theory: 1. Introduction 2. Reexamining party systems theory in the third wave of democratisation Part II. The Brazilian Part Systems, Past and Present: 3. A legacy of party underdevelopment, 1822-1979 4. Elections, parties and society, 1979-96 5. Weak parties and autonomous politicians: party organisation in the catch-all parties 6. Patronage, clientelism, and patrimonialism Part III. Explaining Weak Party-System Institutionalisation: 7. Macrocomparative factors and post-1964 developments 8. Institutional rules and weak institutionalisation: incentives for legislators 9. Institutional rules and the party system: federalism, Malapportionment and presidentialism Part IV. The Party System, Economic Reform, and the Quality of Democracy: 10. Political institutions, state reform and economic stabilisation 11. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index.
Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780804730594

Description

Among the many countries that underwent transitions to democracy in recent decades, only Russia is as important to the United States and the world as Brazil. The fifth-largest country and population in the world, with nearly one-half the inhabitants of Latin America, Brazil has the world's ninth-richest economy. Given the nation's size and influence, its capacity to achieve stable democracy and economic growth will have global impact. Understanding democracy in Brazil is therefore a crucial task, one which this book undertakes. Theoretically, the author argues that most party systems in the third wave of democratization, after 1974, have distinctive features that require us to reformulate theories about party systems generally; previous works have paid scant attention to the importance of variance in the degree of institutionalization of party systems. The author also argues that many third-wave cases underscore the need to focus on the capacity of the state and political elites to structure and restructure party systems from below. Empirically, the author studies the Brazilian party system and democratization, with particular reference to the 1979-96 period. He underscores the weakness of the party system and the resulting problems of democratization. He argues that the party system is poorly institutionalized, explores the reasons for the difficulties of party building, and addresses the consequences of weak institutionalization, which leads him to reaffirm the central significance of parties in the face of widespread skepticism about their importance.

Table of Contents

Tables abbreviations of the main political parties, 1979-96 Part I. Rethinking Part systems Theory: 1. Introduction 2. Reexamining party systems theory in the third wave of democratisation Part II. The Brazilian Part Systems, Past and Present: 3. A legacy of party underdevelopment, 1822-1979 4. Elections, parties and society, 1979-96 5. Weak parties and autonomous politicians: party organisation in the catch-all parties 6. Patronage, clientelism, and patrimonialism Part III. Explaining Weak Party-System Institutionalisation: 7. Macrocomparative factors and post-1964 developments 8. Institutional rules and weak institutionalisation: incentives for legislators 9. Institutional rules and the party system: federalism, Malapportionment and presidentialism Part IV. The Party System, Economic Reform, and the Quality of Democracy: 10. Political institutions, state reform and economic stabilisation 11. Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index.

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