Description: This groundbreaking book delves into the underexplored realm of agrarian elites and their relationship to democracy in Latin America. With a fresh perspective and new theory, it examines the strategies these elites use to gain an advantage in the democratic system. The book provides a detailed examination of when and how agrarian elites participate in the electoral arena to protect their interests, including a novel non-partisan electoral strategy. By providing a deeper understanding of how democratic institutions can be used to protect economic interests, this book adds to the ongoing debate on the relationship between economic elites, democracy, and redistribution. Agrarian Elites and Democracy in Latin America is a must-read for anyone interested in politics, democracy, inequality, and economic power in the Global South.
Brief description: Belén Fernández Milmanda is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Trinity College (USA). Her research explores how economic elites influence policy making in Latin America with a focus on distributive and environmental politics. Her work has appeared in World Development, Politics and Society, and the Oxford Research Encyclopedia on Latin American Politics.
Review Quotes: 'Agrarian elites are often presumed to fear democracy because of the challenges it presents to their privileges and interests. But in many cases these elites not only survive but thrive in democratic environments. Drawing on rich interview material and primary documents from Latin America's Southern Cone, this book lays out the tools elites turn to in order to get their way under democracy and when they are most successful. The author makes critical advances to the studies of democracy, inequality, and elite behavior.' Michael Albertus, Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago