Democrats And Autocrats: Pathways Of Subnational Undemocratic Regime Continuity Within Democratic Countries
by Agustina Giraudy /
2015 / English / PDF
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Despite the fact that countries transitioned to democracy, many citizens residing in peripheral regions continue to live under undemocratic rule. Democrats and Autocrats studies the existence of subnational undemocratic regimes (SURs) alongside national democratic regimes in Latin America. The book fundamentally challenges the assumption that there is one single pathway to subnational undemocratic regime (SUR) continuity within countries. It shows instead the existence of multiple, within-country, pathways that lead to SUR continuity. The study is premised on the notion that SURs within countries not only differ among each other but that they maintain different relations with the federal government, which is why they are reproduced differently. Using a multi-method approach, Democrats and Autocrats shows that, within-country, alternative trajectories of SUR continuity in Argentina and Mexico result first and foremost from the capacity (or lack thereof) of national incumbents to wield power over SURs and subnational autocrats. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the book argues that there are multiple pathways for SURs reproduction within democratic countries. These pathways, in turn, are determined by a specific combination of intergovernmental interactions, all of which are shaped by institutional and economic national and subnational variables. The explanation of SUR continuity advanced in this book is tested in contemporary Argentina and Mexico using a multi-method approach. Both quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as cross-national and within-country comparisons are employed to test pathways of SUR continuity in two of Latin America's largest countries.
