James Loxton Explains Why Authoritarian Successor Parties Succeed in Democracies

They really view their history as one of victimization, one of struggle and even martyrdom. ARENA had multiple leaders assassinated. Again, that version of history that I just told you, that's not necessarily my view. But I do actually believe that that is their sincere belief and it makes for a really compelling founding myth if you will. And I think that founding myth has helped to hold both parties together right up until the present day.

James Loxton

A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.

Key Highlights Include

• Why do voters elect leaders with ties to former dictators? • Description of authoritarian successor parties • Challenges for conservative party formation • A brief history of the UDI in Chile and ARENA in El Salvador • The role of counterrevolutionary struggle

Key Links

Conservative Party-Building in Latin America: Authoritarian Inheritance and Counterrevolutionary Struggle by James Loxton

"Authoritarian Successor Parties" by James Loxton in Journal of Democracy, July 2015

Visit James at www.jamesloxton.net

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Release date

Lydbog: 11. maj 2021