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  3. Resisting Backsliding
  • Cited by 50
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
November 2022
Print publication year:
2022
Online ISBN:
9781009164085
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009164085
Subjects:
Area Studies, Latin American Studies, Politics and International Relations, Latin American Government, Politics and Policy, Comparative Politics
Information

Book description

In the past two decades, democratically elected executives across the world have used their popularity to push for legislation that, over time, destroys systems of checks and balances, hinders free and fair elections, and undermines political rights and civil liberties. Using and abusing institutions and institutional reform, some executives have transformed their countries' democracies into competitive authoritarian regimes. Others, however, have failed to erode democracy. What explains these different outcomes? Resisting Backsliding answers this question. With a focus on the cases of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Alvaro Uribe in Colombia, the book shows that the strategies and goals of the opposition are key to understanding why some executives successfully erode democracy and others do not. By highlighting the role of the opposition, this book emphasizes the importance of agency for understanding democratic backsliding and shows that even weak oppositions can defeat strong potential autocrats.

Reviews

‘At a time when democracy is under threat around the world, Gamboa’s impressively researched and cogently argued book about Venezuela and Colombia spotlights how a democratic opposition that plays by the institutional rules can thwart the ambitions of aspiring autocrats to consolidate power. Resisting Backsliding is essential reading for students of comparative democracies.’

Frances Hagopian - Harvard University

‘The most urgent question for democrats today is not 'Why do voters support leaders with authoritarian aspirations?' but 'How can we confront those leaders once they are in power?' Gamboa offers answers grounded in rigorous comparative research and in sound normative principles. This book charts the path for a new research agenda.’

Aníbal Pérez-Liñán - University of Notre Dame

'Although democratic erosion has generated much scholarly attention in recent years, we still know little about how to stop it. Resisting Backsliding helps fill that gap. In this well-researched and carefully argued book, Laura Gamboa highlights the critical role of opposition strategy in determining whether elected autocrats succeed or fail. This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about democratic backsliding in the contemporary world.'

Steven Levitsky - Harvard University

‘… This book stakes out an important piece of territory in the theoretical landscape and deserves attention from all scholars interested in the dynamics of democratic erosion and survival.’

Laura Gamboa Source: Perspective of Politics

‘Gamboa’s book offers a vital contribution to the academic debate over democratic backsliding. More importantly, it offers practical wisdom. If structural and institutional factors are all that matter, then there is little that democrats can do to resist an ambitious executive. Gamboa makes a powerful case that opposition strategies make a difference and that opposition movements can learn from each other to preserve democracy. As local activists and international actors work together to build a democratic playbook, Gamboa’s work could not be more relevant.’

Robert Carlson Source: A Global Americans Review

‘Laura Gamboa’s book is a most welcome addition to the literature. With impressive empirical detail and analytical rigour she shows how democratic backsliding is not only the result of weak institutions or specific incumbent strategies: if we want to understand why some presidents with authoritarian ambitions succeed while others fail, we must study the opposition’s strategies. … I will use it both as an 'encyclopedia' when I need information about a specific turning point in the democratic trajectories of the cases, and I will revisit the realistic, yet optimistic analysis of the future of democracy.’

Benedicte Bull Source: European Political Science

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