Enforcing the Rule of Law

Reviews / Votes

One of the most salient political issues in most Latin American countries is the prevalence of corruption and the difficulty of forcing state agents to follow the rule of law. This new book of interesting essays and sometimes spirited disagreements further advances understanding of these important issues. * Scott Mainwaring, University of Notre Dame * In contrast to recent research on Latin American democracy focusing on the weakness of formal institutions and the undemocratic quality of informal politics, Enforcing the Rule of Law reminds us that civil society and the media play important roles in enhancing democratic governance. Theoretically nuanced and empirically rich, the book will stimulate debate about the sources of democratic governance not only in Latin America, but wherever problems of accountability arise. * Philip Oxhorn, McGill University * Enforcing the Rule of Law goes beyond the 'usual suspects' found in more formal, elite and central-government-centered analyses. It contains provocative and original research on politics in the streets and plazas, neighborhoods, provinces, assembly halls, courtrooms, polling stations, newsrooms, television and radio stations of the region. It should be required reading for anyone interested in the quality and trajectories of Latin American democracies. * Anthony Pereira, Tulane University * This insightful and agenda-setting collection provides a robust empirical and conceptual platform for taking on this challenging analytical question. * <i>Journal of Latin American Studies</i> *