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The politics of institutional change: Electoral reform in Latin America, 1978-2002

Publication ,  Journal Article
Remmer, KL
Published in: Party Politics
January 1, 2008

Building on the growing body of research on political institutions, this article explores the causes of electoral reform, with specific reference to Latin America. What factors account for the extensive array of electoral reforms adopted in the region since the return to democracy? How are shifting patterns of political representation related to institutional change? In addressing these questions, I develop an account of electoral reform that places shifting partisan political fortunes at the center of analysis and show that changes in the rules of the electoral game tend to reflect the political self-interest of dominant political parties as defined in relation to mounting electoral uncertainty. The evidence regarding the impact of electoral reforms on party system change is less consistent with the expectations derived from the comparative institutional literature. Over the past two decades, party system change in Latin America has generated institutional change more predictably than vice versa. Copyright © 2008 SAGE Publications.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Party Politics

DOI

EISSN

1460-3683

ISSN

1354-0688

Publication Date

January 1, 2008

Volume

14

Issue

1

Start / End Page

5 / 30

Related Subject Headings

  • Political Science & Public Administration
  • 4408 Political science
  • 1606 Political Science
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Remmer, K. L. (2008). The politics of institutional change: Electoral reform in Latin America, 1978-2002. Party Politics, 14(1), 5–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068807083821
Remmer, K. L. “The politics of institutional change: Electoral reform in Latin America, 1978-2002.” Party Politics 14, no. 1 (January 1, 2008): 5–30. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068807083821.
Remmer, K. L. “The politics of institutional change: Electoral reform in Latin America, 1978-2002.” Party Politics, vol. 14, no. 1, Jan. 2008, pp. 5–30. Scopus, doi:10.1177/1354068807083821.
Journal cover image

Published In

Party Politics

DOI

EISSN

1460-3683

ISSN

1354-0688

Publication Date

January 1, 2008

Volume

14

Issue

1

Start / End Page

5 / 30

Related Subject Headings

  • Political Science & Public Administration
  • 4408 Political science
  • 1606 Political Science