Party Vibrancy and Democracy in Latin America

"Political parties are an integral part of most political systems. Rosenblatt conducted extensive interviews from 2010 to 2014 with many political activists in Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, three of Latin America's currently most stable democracies. He attributes the stability of these regimes to ""party vibrancy,"" a condition based on party institutionalization not tied to a particular candidate or factor. Despite many challenges, parties in Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay have survived as significant channels of democratic representation and served their nations well. While drawing the examples from Latin America, Rosenblatt's conclusions are broadly applicable to political parties anywhere in the world. The book belongs in all academic libraries."" -CHOICE, J. A. Rhodes, emeritus, Luther College Fernando Rosenblatt's well-researched and highly engaging book goes beyond scholars' common focus on party institutionalization and examines under what conditions Latin American parties maintain vibrancy and guarantee the active, dynamic representation of citizen interests. By weaving together various causal factors, ranging from historical trauma to exit barriers, Rosenblatt constructs a novel explanation that combines rational choice and historical institutionalism in imaginative ways."" -Wendy Hunter, Professor of Government, University of Texas-Austin This book will subvert conventional wisdom on party organizations, party building, and institutionalization. Rosenblatt's masterful case study research also illuminates why even if 'necessary for democracy' to work properly, vibrant political parties are so incredibly difficult to find (and to build from scratch) in contemporary times."" -Juan Pablo Luna, Professor of Political Science, PUC-Chile The Reproduction of Party Vibrancy in Latin America presents a compelling explanation for why some Latin American parties have flourished, while others have decayed. Based on extensive field research in Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, the book represents an important contribution to our understanding of Latin American parties and party vibrancy more generally."" -Raúl L. Madrid, Professor of Government, University of Texas-Austin At a time when traditional parties seem to be wearing out in democracies around the world, Fernando Rosenblatt's book provides much-needed insight on the factors that help parties maintain their vibrancy. Through a careful comparative analysis of major parties in Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, Rosenblatt demonstrates that ossification and decay are not the inevitable fate of political parties, and he illuminates essential organizational characteristics that counteract such tendencies and keep parties vibrant. This book is a major contribution to the comparative study of political parties and democratic representation, in Latin America and beyond."" -Kenneth M. Roberts, Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, Cornell University In this book, Fernando Rosenblatt makes an invaluable contribution to the literature on Latin American political parties and beyond. This work is the result of rigorous research ... Rosenblatt's work is exemplary ... this book is an obligatory reference for students of political parties and comparative politics."" -Latin American Politics and Society"