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seminar

Contemporary Challenges to Democracy

Comparative Perspectives and the Way Forward

Riot Chile
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Christian C

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Why do democracies last or break down? Why do dictatorships survive or fall? What explains waves of regime change?

The recently published book by Scott Mainwaring and Aníbal Pérez-Liñán argue for a theoretical approach situated between long-term structural and cultural explanations and short-term explanations that look at the decisions of specific leaders. Aníbal Pérez-Linán will discuss their findings from a comparative perspective with a group of scholars from CMI: Lise Rakner will concentrate on the analysis of democratization in Africa, Kjetil Selvik focuses on the Arab world, and Kendra Dupuy on the role of natural resources. The discussion will be moderated by Andrea Castagnola.

Aníbal Pérez-Liñán is an Associate Professor of Political Science and a member of the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. He is author of Presidential Impeachment and the New Political Instability in Latin America (2007) and has published articles in the Journal of Politics, World Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Comparative Politics, and Electoral Studies, among others.

Seminar organised with Centre on Law & Social Transformation.

Free and open for all!