The Persistence of Local Caudillos in Latin America - (Pitt Latin American) by Tomás Dosek (Hardcover)

About the Book

Illustrates the Unevenness of Democracy in Latin America

Book Synopsis

Despite democratization at the national level, local political bosses still govern many municipalities in Latin America. Caudillos and clans often use informal political practices--ranging from clientelism and patronage to harassment of political opposition--to control local political dynamics. These arbitrary and, at times, abusive practices pose important challenges to how Latin American democracy works and how power is exercised after the decentralization reforms in the region. These reforms promised to bring the government closer to the people and to promote popular participation. In many cases, these ideals are unmet, and newly empowered local politicians have been able to turn municipalities into personal fiefdoms. This book explores how local caudillos stay in power and why some are more successful than others in retaining office. Tomás Dosek provides an in-depth analysis of six cases from Chile, Paraguay, and Peru to show the strategies that caudillos pursue to secure power and the mistakes they commit that drive them out.

Review Quotes

The Persistence of Local Caudillos in Latin America is a substantial contribution to the conceptualization of caudillismo and related practices from a political science perspective. It also provides us with important insights that enrich broader discussions of subnational authoritarianism and local governance.-- "Publius"

In this remarkable book, Tomás Dosek makes a splendid contribution to the literature on subnational politics and the informal political practices that explain the continuity--and eventual downfall--of local caudillos. Through rich, in-depth comparisons of six municipalities in three countries, the book illuminates the understudied local politics of unitary countries.--Jacqueline Behrend, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de San Martín

Prior work on subnational undemocratic regimes has largely focused on federal countries, and mostly on second-tier governments. This book departs from that tradition by shifting the locus of analysis to unitary countries and third-tier governments (i.e., municipalities). Drawing on extensive fieldwork, rigorous analysis, and theoretical depth, Dosek offers a new and critical understanding of subnational political regimes dynamics. The Persistence of Local Caudillos in Latin America is an essential reading for scholars of subnational politics and democracy.--Agustina Giraudy, American University

About the Author

Tomás Dosek is associate professor of political science in the Departmento de Ciencias Sociales at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and researcher with the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas, Económicas, Políticas y Antropológicas. He is coeditor of Women, Politics, and Democracy in Latin America and Mujeres en la política: Experiencias nacionales y subnacionales en América Latina.