Table of Contents

Part 1 Comparative perspectives: presidentialism and majoritarian democracy - theoretical observations, Arend Lijphart; neither presidentialism nor parliamentarism, Giovanni Sartori; presidentialism and parliamentarism in comparative perspective, Alfred Stepan and Cindy Skach; presidentialism and political stability in France, Ezra N. Suleiman. Part 2 The case of Latin America: party politics and the crisis of presidentialism in Chile - a proposal for a parliamentary form of government, Arturo Valenzuela; presidentialism and democratic stability in Uruguay, Luis Eduardo Gonzalez and Charles Guy Gillespie; Brazil - toward parliamentarism?, Bolivar Lamounier; presidentialism and Colombian politics, Jonathon Hartlyn; loose parties, "floating" politicans, and institutional stress - presidentialism in Ecuador, 1979-1988, Catherine M. Conaghan; presidents, messiahs, and constitutional breakdowns in Peru, Cynthia McClintock; Venezuela - democratic despite presidentialism, Michael Coppedge.

About the Author

Juan J. Linz is Sterling Professor of Political and Social Science at Yale University. Arturo Valenzuela is Emeritus Professor of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Reviews

"This book is already a classic and is bound to be widely read and cited for many years to come."-Matthew Soberg Shugart, 'Journal of Democracy' "An impressive and valuable book, with a first-class roster of contributors, and rewards a careful reading."--Martin C. Needler, 'Studies in Comparative International Development'