Politicians and Politics in Latin America / / Manuel Alcántara Sáez.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter Lynne Rienner Press Complete eBook-Package 2013-2000
• VerfasserIn: Alcántara Sáez, Manuel,
• MitwirkendeR: Alcántara Sáez, Manuel,; Freidenberg, Flavia,; García Díez, Fátima,; García Montero, Mercedes,; Llamazares Valduvieco, Iván,; Marenghi, Patricia,; Martí i Puig, Salvador,; Martínez Rosón, María del Mar,; Mateos Díaz, Araceli,; Rivas Pérez, Cristina,; Ruiz Rodríguez, Leticia M.,; Santiuste Cué, Salvador,
• Place / Publishing House: Boulder : : Lynne Rienner Publishers, , [2022]; ©2007
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (323 p.)

The premise of this book is, simply, that politicians matter—that an understanding of the role played by politicians in the way that politics is carried out in their countries is, far from constituting a resurrection of outdated elitist theories, of vital importance in present-day Latin America. The authors consider politicians as both cause and effect. Drawing on pioneering field research on the opinions of Latin American legislators in 17 countries, they focus on two broad topics: political systems, as reflected in politicians' perspectives on the democracies and party organizations of which they are a part; and the role played by ideology, not only in shaping positions on issues, but also as a factor that gives coherence to parties. Their seminal work is central to the current political dynamics in the region, as well as to broader debates in political science.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Tables and Figures -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. Studying Parliamentary Elites in Latin America, 1994–2006 -- Part 1. Politics and Democracy -- 2. The Conundrum of Representation -- 3. The Meanings of Democracy and Institutional Trust -- 4. Legislators and Political Agendas -- Part 2. Party Politics and Ideology -- 5. The Organization of Political Parties -- 6. The Dimensions of Polarization in Parliaments -- 7. The Determinants of Intraparty Ideological Differences -- 8. Programmatic Coherence -- 9. The Parliamentary Left -- 10. The Parliamentary Right -- Part 3. Conclusion -- 11. Legislative Careers: Does Quality Matter? -- 12. Politicians and Politics in Latin America After Twenty-Five Years of Democracy -- Political Parties, by Acronym and by Country -- Bibliography -- The Contributors -- Index -- About the Book