Fragile democracies: the legacies of authoritarian rule

It is argued in this book that a focus on redemocratization in the 1990s understates the problems inherent in the transition from authoritarianism. This book discusses the legacies of authoritarianism and how difficult it is for well-meaning new leaders to ensure that the new democracy will flourish. Even in countries with a strong democratic tradition evidence presented here demonstrates that redemocratization remains problematic at best. Authoritarian regimes leave an imprint on society long after their leaders have been overthrown because they systematically seek to alter the traditional roles of important social institutions. By forcing groups such as the church and the military to play an active political role, the authoritarian regime inadvertently guarantees that these and other institutions will continue to intervene in politics. This book builds a model to explain why social institutions such as the church and the military remain the political arena after redemocratization. Evidence of the model is based on extensive examination of the Marcos and Aquino administrations in the Philippines and on a review of the secondary literature on several Latin American countries. -from Author