Audacious Reforms: Institutional Invention and Democracy in Latin America

Audacious Reforms examines the creation of new political institutions in three Latin American countries: direct elections for governors and mayors in Venezuela, radical municipalization in Bolivia, and direct election of the mayor of Buenos Aires in Argentina. Diverging from the usual incremental processes of political change, these cases marked a significant departure from traditional centralized governments. Such "audacious reforms," explains Merilee S. Grindle, reinvent the ways in which public problems are manifested and resolved, the ways in which political actors calculate the costs and benefits of their activities, and the ways in which social groups relate to the political process. Grindle considers three central questions: Why would rational politicians choose to give up power? What accounts for the selection of some institutions rather than others? And how does the introduction of new institutions alter the nature of political actions? The case studies of Venezuela, Bolivia, and Argentina demonstrate that institutional invention must be understood from theoretical perspectives that stretch beyond immediate concerns about electoral gains and political support building. Broader theoretical perspectives on the definition of nation and state, the nature of political contests, the legitimacy of political systems, and the role of elites all must be considered. While past conflicts are not erased by reforms, in the new order there is often greater potential for more responsible, accountable, and democratic government.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures, Tables and Boxes Acknowlegments Abbreviations 1. Audacious Reforms: Democratizing Latin America 2. Explaining the Unexpected 3. Institutional Invention in Venezuela: Legitimizing the System 4. New Rules of the Game: Consequeneces of Change in Venezuela 5. Political Engineering in Bolivia: The Law of Popular Participation 6. A New Conundrum: National-Local Politics in Bolivia 7. Practing Institional Change in Argentina 8. Waiting for Godot? Constitutional Change in Argentine Practice 9. Democratizing Reforms: Origins and Consequences Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Merilee S. Grindle is in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Review :
Timely, well-researched, and clearly written. —Elisabeth Jay Friedman, Political Science Quarterly A major contribution to the growing literature on political decentralisation and institutional reform in Latin America. Grindle's perceptive observations, excellent case studies, and sophisticated analysis have moved current debates forward. —Eliza Willis, Journal of Latin American Studies