Building New Democracies: Economic And Social Reform In Brazil, Chile, And Mexico (studies In Comparative Political Economy And Public Policy)

In Building New Democracies Michel Duquette analyses the main public policies of Brazil, Chile, and Mexico to explore examples of how countries make the transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic society. The main objective of the book is to follow the process of policy formation in very young democracies. Duquette isolates the specific problems that surround decision-making in a transitional government, showing how legislating structural change does not guarantee democratic success. He offers a general model of domestic and international policy-making as a response to the problems of achieving fundamental political reform. The effectiveness of public policies is dependent on many factors, including competing ideologies, inexperienced political leaders, rising political organizations, rule by coalition parties, and the influence of local politicians and technocrats. It is with the alliance of grassroots organizations and autonomous institutions, Duquette believes, that social and economic exclusion will be overcome on a national level. Building New Democracies is primarily theoretical in its analysis, but integrates many recent empirical findings from a wide body of international and Latin American research, including the author's own field work. The methodology Duquette employs is genuinely comparative and not merely a juxtaposition of case studies. His approach and conclusions can be applied to a number of disciplines, including political science, economics, sociology, and Latin American studies. Building New Democracies is an Extended Essay on the Main Public Policies of Brazil, Chile, and Mexico that Michel Duquette uses to explore how countries make the transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic society. Duquette's argument is an interesting blend from the disciplines of public policy and political economy.The main objective of the book is to follow the process of policy formation in very young democracies and Duquette isolates the specific problems that surround decision-making in a transitional government. Legislating structural change does not guarantee democratic success. The author offers a general model of domestic and international policy-making as a response to the problems of achieving fundamental political reform. The effectiveness of public policies depends on factors including competing ideologies, inexperienced political leaders, rising political organizations, rule by coalition parties, and the influence of local politicians and technocrats. It is with the alliance of grassroot organizations and autonomous institutions, Duquette believes, that social and economic exclusion will be overcome on a national level. Building New Democracies is primary theoretical in its analysis, but integrates many recent empirical findings from a wide body of international and Latin American research, including the author's own field work.The methodology Duquette employs is genuinely comparative and not merely a juxtaposition of case studies. His approach and conclusions can be applied to broader studies in political science and sociology in addition to contemporary Latin America studies and history. In Building New Democracies Michel Duquette Analyses The Main Public Policies Of Brazil, Chile, And Mexico To Explore Examples Of How Countries Make The Transition From An Authoritarian Regime To A Democratic Society. The Main Objective Of The Book Is To Follow The Process Of Policy Formation In Very Young Democracies.--jacket. Domestic Determinants Of Economic Reforms -- Identifying The Variables Relevant To The Study Of Adjustment -- The Determination Of The Political Executive To Undertake Market Adjustment -- The Role Of Competent And Honest Technicians -- The Autonomy Of The Reformist State -- The Influence Of Electoral Cycles -- Privileged Linkages With Corporate Interest Groups -- A New Relationship Between State And Labour -- Assessing The Economic Performance Of Reforms -- International Determinants Of Economic Reforms -- Gaining International Support For Domestic Reform -- Adjustment Through Regional Integration -- Regional Integration In Support Of Market-oriented Policies -- Obstacles To Integration In Partially Liberalized Markets -- Theoretical Linkages Between Regional Determinants And Endogenous Variables -- Will Mercosur Support The Consolidation Of Southern Cone Democracies? -- Determinants Of Social Reforms -- Adjustment Against Justice -- Agrarian Reform And The Modernization Of Agriculture -- The Issue Of Science And Education -- Public Intervention Against Marginality -- In Search Of Political Conditions To Pursue Social Policies. Michel Duquette. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [251]-260) And Index.

In Building New Democracies Michel Duquette analyses the main public policies of Brazil, Chile, and Mexico to explore examples of how countries make the transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic society.

The main objective of the book is to follow the process of policy formation in very young democracies. Duquette isolates the specific problems that surround decision-making in a transitional government, showing how legislating structural change does not guarantee democratic success. He offers a general model of domestic and international policy-making as a response to the problems of achieving fundamental political reform. The effectiveness of public policies depends on factors including competing ideologies, inexperienced political leaders, rising political organizations, rule by coalition parties, and the influence of local politicians and technocrats. It is with the alliance of grassroots organizations and autonomous institutions, Duquette believes, that social and economic exclusion will be overcome on a national level. Building New Democracies is primarily theoretical in its analysis, but integrates many recent empirical findings from a wide body of international and Latin American research, including the author's own field work.

The methodology Duquette employs is genuinely comparative and not merely a juxtaposition of case studies. His approach and conclusions can be applied to a number of disciplines, including political science, economics, sociology, and Latin American studies.

Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction 11 PART ONE: DOMESTIC DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC REFORMS 41 1 Identifying the Variables Relevant to the Study of Adjustment 41 2 The Determination of the Political Executive to Undertake Market Adjustment 46 3. The Role of Competent and Honest Technicians 61 4. The Autonomy of the Reformist State 73 5 The Influence of Electoral Cycles 84 6 Privileged Linkages with Corporate Interest Groups 89 7 A New Relationship between State and Labour 98 8 Assessing the Economic Performance of Reforms 107 PART TWO: INTERNATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC REFORMS 121 9 Gaining International Support for Domestic Reform 121 10 Adjustment through Regional Integration 133 11 Regional Integration in Support of Market-Oriented Policies 141 12 Obstacles to Integration in Partially Liberalized Markets 155 13 Theoretical Linkages between Regional Determinants and Endogenous Variables 163 14 Will MERCOSUR Support the Consolidation of Southern Cone Democracies? 176 PART THREE: DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL REFORMS 185 15 Adjustment against Justice 185 16 Agrarian Reform and the Modernization of Agriculture 195 17 The Issue of Science and Education 206 18 Public Intervention against Marginality 212 19 In Search of Political Conditions to Pursue Social Policies 220 Conclusions 231 Appendix: Tables 241 References 261 Index 271 "In Building New Democracies Michel Duquette analyses the main public policies of Brazil, Chile, and Mexico to explore examples of how countries make the transition from an authoritarian regime to a democratic society."--BOOK JACKET. "The main objective of the book is to follow the process of policy formation in very young democracies."--BOOK JACKET.