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Democratic Consolidation in Latin America : Comparative Case Analysis and Theoretical Revision

Research Project

Project/Area Number 12620075
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Politics
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

TSUNEKAWA Keiichi  The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Professor, 大学院・総合文化研究科, 教授 (80134401)

Project Period (FY) 2000 – 2001
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2001)
Budget Amount *help
¥1,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000)
Fiscal Year 2001: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
Fiscal Year 2000: ¥1,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000)
KeywordsDemocratic Consolidation / Democracy / Latin America / Constructivism
Research Abstract

This research aims at looking at the existing theories of democratic consolidation and searching for a better theory through analyzing the democratization process of five Latin American countries : Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Peru and E1 Salvador. Although some Latin American countries still observe illegal exercise of power by the govemments or the lack of political order, it is the first time in its history that democratic regimes spread so broadly and persistently in the region. Theories of democratic consolidation are multiple. On the one hand, there are authors who emphasize the importance of long-term structural factors such as economic development and the resultant social pluralism, power balance among social classes and the growth of "civil society." On the other hand, there are theories that emphasize short-term behavioral factors such as political strategies, modes of democratic transition and political institutions. This research, however, revealed that all of these theories are highly insufficient in explaining Latin American experiences. The common factor shared by all Latin American countries with different social and political characteristics is the long exhaustive social conflict that precipitated political learning for peaceful co-existence among the elite and the general public. The most important factor that explains the persistence of democratic regimes in Latin America is the broad national consensus with regard to the importance of the procedural democracy regardless of the policy result on the economic and social matters. This means that a reverse learning on the meaninglessness of democratic regimes may be precipitated if people's economic and social aspirations are not met for an extended period of time. In any case, this view that emphasizes political learning through inter-subjective interactions is affinitive to the constructivist approach.

Report

(3 results)
  • 2001 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2000 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (4 results)

All Other

All Publications (4 results)

  • [Publications] 恒川 恵市: "2000年メキシコ総選挙-PRI体制の崩壊とその後"アジ研ワールド・トレンド. 2001年2月号. 33-39 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Tsunekawa Keiichi: ""2000 General Elections in Mexico : The Demise of the PRIRegime and Thereafter." (In Japanese)"IDE World Trend, February. 33-39 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2001 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] 恒川 惠市: "2000年メキシコ総選挙-PRI体制の崩壊とその後"アジ研ワールド・トレンド. 2001年 2月号. 33-39 (2001)

    • Related Report
      2001 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 恒川惠市: "民主化と国際政治・経済"国際政治. 125. 1-13 (2000)

    • Related Report
      2000 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2000-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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