Resumo

MUNCK, Gerardo L.. Semi-patrimonial states and durable low-quality democracies in Latin America. Rev. Mex. Sociol [online]. 2024, vol.86, n.spe, pp.53-88.  Epub 07-Jun-2024. ISSN 2594-0651.  https://doi.org/10.22201/iis.01882503p.2024.1°%20ne.62573.

This article claims that the state affects the extent to which democratic standards are met, and both the costs of abandoning a high political office and the support a leader unwilling to accept electoral defeat can expect to have with-in the state and their party. This argument is elaborated to explain the typical political regime in Latin America: durable poor-quality democracies. Latin America’s semipatrimonial states determine this outcome through two mechanisms: selective collusion and political opportunism. The plausibility of the theory about mechanisms is gauged. Additionally, implications for the field of comparative democracy studies are spelled out.

Palavras-chave : democracy; state; patrimonialism; Latin America.