Political Culture and Institutional Development in Costa Rica and Nicaragua: World Making in the Tropics (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780521842037)

Attempts to construct resilient democracies have been as pervasive as reversals have been cruel in Latin America. Based on a wealth of original historical documents and contemporary interviews, this volume analyzes five centuries of political history through paradigmatic examples of outstanding democratic success and abysmal failure. It demonstrates that while factors highlighted by standard explanations matter, it is political culture that configures economic development, institutional choices and political pacts in ways that directly affect democracy's chances and quality.

Author: Consuelo Cruz
ISBN-10: 0521842034
ISBN-13: 9780521842037
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Language: English
Published: 08/22/2005
Pages: 302
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 9.48h x 6.36w x 0.92d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 06/01/2006 pg. 1896