Transitions from Authoritarian Rule

An array of internationally noted scholars examines the process of democratization in southern Europe and Latin America. They provide new interpretations of both current and historical efforts of nations to end periods of authoritarian rule and to initiate transition to democracy efforts that have met with widely varying degrees of success and failure. Extensive case studies of individual countries a comparative overview and a synthesis conclusions offer important insights for political scientists students and all concerned with the prospects for democracy. The historical example of Italy after Mussolini as well as the more recent cases of Greece Portugal Spain and Turkey suggest factors that may make a transition relatively secure.