Up in the Clouds; Christopher S. Allen Reviews Democracy from Above: Regional Organizations and Democratization

Allen, Christopher S., Harvard International Review

The transition to democracy by formerly dictatorial regimes in Eastern and Southern Europe and Latin America during the past decade and a half has been a significant and momentous development in the "third wave" of democratization. Scholars of comparative politics and international relations, however, disagree on the primary cause of these transitions to democracy.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Much of the literature in comparative politics emphasizes internal or domestic factors, while tending to minimize external or international ones. On the other hand, most scholars of international relations emphasize external factors, such as the role of great powers, in helping the spread of democracy in these transitional countries.

In Democracy from Above, Jon C. Pevehouse takes issue with both sets of scholars. He argues that they fail to appreciate the role that regional organizations play in both the transition to and the survival of democracy in these formerly dictatorial nation-states. Furthermore, he contends that the role of domestic elites via their membership in …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Up in the Clouds; Christopher S. Allen Reviews Democracy from Above: Regional Organizations and Democratization. Contributors: Allen, Christopher S. - Author. Journal title: Harvard International Review. Volume: 27. Issue: 3 Publication date: Fall 2005. Page number: 78+. © 1999 Harvard International Relations Council, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group.

This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.