Authoritarian Consolidation in Times of Crisis

Rezensionen / Stimmen

This is the best CT scan of autocratic rule in Venezuela. Aware that autocracy in the 21st century is sustained by a multitude of pillars, the editors have enlisted the very best scholars in the field to write about each component behind Maduro's dictatorship. Rather than trying to explain it all, chapters focus on one or two pillars. The result is what amounts to a brilliant handbook on autocratic rule, broken down by all its internal and external dimensions - a tour de force for all students interested in autocracy.

Javier Corrales, Dwight W. Morrow 1895 Professor of Political Science, Amherst College

This edited volume provides the most complete, multidimensional and fascinating account on how Chavismo under Maduro, during these last twelve years, has fully transformed Venezuela into a hegemonic authoritarian regime that has been able to entrench itself despite very strong international and domestic pressures. A must read.

Michael Penfold, Global Fellow, Wilson Center

For students of 21st century authoritarianism, this book reveals the complex, multiple and sometimes reckless strategies and tactics developed by one of the most resistant dictatorships in the world today. The Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela is one of the most fascinating cases of political survival. In these pages, an excellent group of scholars uses diverse perspectives to analyze how and why this authoritarianism has endured. This is an avant-garde book that is a must-read for those interested in this topic.

Margarita Lopez Maya, Ex-President of the Latin American Studies Association, Universidad Central de Venezuela

Authoritarian Consolidation in Times of Crisis is a terrific book, making an important contribution to our understanding of authoritarian consolidation in the 21st century. The authors explain the very puzzling case of Nicolas Maduro's ability to survive an economic and humanitarian crisis, an unstable coalition of allies, and strong international and domestic opposition. The collection analyzes fourteen keys to the explanation, from domestic actors like opposition parties, courts, and military, to international factors including the growing authoritarian axis of supporters, the role of emigration and the Venezuelan diaspora. The book wrestles with the concept of authoritarian consolidation, ill-defined in the literature, but also has important lessons for policymakers. Highly recommended for students, scholars and anyone concerned with challenging autocrats today.

Jennifer McCoy, Regent's Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University