Dados is one of the most widely-read social sciences journals in Latin America. Created in 1966, it publishes innovative works, originating from academic research, by Brazilian and foreign authors. Edited by IESP-UERJ, it aims to reconcile scientific rigor and academic excellence with an emphasis on public debate based on the analysis of substantive issues of society and politics.
Dados vol. 27 n. 3 Rio de Janeiro 1984
Abstract
Theories that attempt to explain system-level phenomena, such as democracy and totalitarianism, differ from one another in regard to the choice of variables to be investigated, their relationships, and order of importance. They do coincide, however, in their deterministic bent. In fact, the author argues, such theories tend to view such systemic phenomena in a structural, interrelated, and relatively stable manner. The analysis of indicators of democracy and totalitarianism in Latin America, however, suggests that such phenomena are far from stable. Using data for 1930, 1948, 1976, and 1981, this paper shows that correlations between such indicators are very low and that the non-explained variance is very large. The author concludes that Latin American political systems are not stable, hence theories that purport to explain them cannot be based on models that assume stability.
O Futuro Da Democracia na América Latina
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