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In the five years since the second edition of Constructing Democratic Governance in Latin America was released, the region has seen numerous free and fair elections but setbacks in other areas of democracy. The third edition examines four themes vital to building market-oriented democracies in Latin America: the development of democratic institutions, globalization’s impact, socio-political integration, and market reforms. Within these broad themes, the contributors explore how issues such as the performance of political parties, civilian control of the military, human rights protections, and executive-legislative relations are playing out in eight countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. They find a mixed record on many fronts and discuss the uncertain state of democracy in several Latin American states in light of recent institutional setbacks and attempts to overhaul the political sphere. The book is now available through John Hopkins University Press.

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Conference

On September 28 and 29, 2006, experts convened at the Dialogue to prepare for the forthcoming third edition of Constructing Democratic Governance. As part of the Dialogue’s democratic governance project, the conference covered democratic institutions and practices, as well as the rule of law in the hemisphere. A day-long authors’ meeting was followed by a public session the next day, addressing the Mexican and Brazilian elections, the leadership and direction of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez and Colombian president Álvaro Uribe, the effects of market reforms and globalization, and the consolidation of democracy in Argentina and Chile. In addition to the authors, listed below, several prominent analysts commented on the draft chapters, including Mariclaire Acosta of the Organization of American States, Cynthia Arnson and Paulo Sotero of the Woodrow Wilson International Center, Tom Carothers of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, John Cope of the National Defense University, Peter DeShazo of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Riordian Roett of John Hopkin University's School for Advanced International Studies, and Arturo Valenzuela of Georgetown University. Thomas Shannon, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, delivered the luncheon address.

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Contributing Authors