Democracy and the Left

Social Policy and Inequality in Latin America

Huber Evelyne, Stephens John D.

Although inequality in Latin America ranks among the worst in the world, it has notably declined over the last decade, offset by improvements in health care and education, enhanced programs for social assistance, and increases in the minimum wage. In "Democracy and the Left", Evelyne Huber and John D. Stephens argue that the resurgence of democracy in Latin America is key to this change. In addition to directly affecting public policy, democratic institutions enable left-leaning political parties to emerge, significantly influencing the allocation of social spending on poverty and inequality. But while democracy is an important determinant of redistributive change, it is by no means the only factor. Drawing on a wealth of data, Huber and Stephens present quantitative analyses of eighteen countries and comparative historical analyses of the five most advanced social policy regimes in Latin America, showing how international power structures have influenced the direction of their social policy. They augment these analyses by comparing them to the development of social policy in democratic Portugal and Spain.

The most ambitious examination of the development of social policy in Latin America to date, "Democracy and the Left" shows that inequality is far from intractable – a finding with crucial policy implications worldwide.

Content

Figures
Tables
Acronyms
Preface and Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Framework and Methodological Approach
3. Strategy for Redistribution and Poverty Reduction
4. The Development of Social Policy Regimes in the ISI Period
5. The Determinants of Social Spending, Inequality, and Poverty: Quantitative Evidence
6. Neoliberal Reforms and the Turn to Basic Universalism
7. Iberia and the Advanced Latin American Social Policy Regimes: Explaining the Different Trajectories
8. Conclusion

Reviews

"With the publication of 'Democracy and the Left', Evelyne Huber and John D. Stephens contribute another major book, adding to their stellar careers. Latin America has long been characterized by high poverty rates and the sharpest inequalities in the world. Huber and Stephens argue persuasively that poverty and inequality are not intractable problems. Through careful research, they show that, because democracy allows progressive political parties and social forces to influence policy and come to power, it generally has a positive impact on poverty and inequality when it lasts for at least twenty years" – Scott Mainwaring, University of Notre Dame

"Evelyne Huber and John D. Stephens have produced another classic contribution to the literature on the political dynamics of social policy. Combining sophisticated cross-national quantitative analysis with comparative historical analysis founded on encyclopedic knowledge of the cases in question, Huber and Stephens demonstrate how and why politics makes a fundamental difference to national welfare. As Latin America increasingly becomes a reference point for those interested in progressive policy outcomes, this book is a must for the libraries of social scientists and policy makers" – Peter Evans, University of California, Berkeley

"Evelyne Huber and John D. Stephens have provided the most theoretically profound, empirically thorough, and wide-ranging work that advances the more optimistic view that democracy itself plays a crucial role in stimulating redistribution in Latin America and that the political left is the most important agent in effecting this change. 'Democracy and the Left' is an important, major book that advances a powerful argument about a significant topic and substantiates it with an impressive range of research" – Kurt Weyland, University of Texas

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