This book addresses the breakdown of failed democratic systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. The implications of the present research on democratic purgatory have real-world applications not only for the above countries but also for those political systems that are currently transitioning and/or consolidating their democracies as well.

1. Introduction to Democratic Purgatory.- 2. Democracy’s End: A Tale of Two Referenda.- 3. Operationalizing Democratization.- 4. The Blueprint for Democratization.- 5. From Exemplar to Pariah: The Heuristic Case of Venezuela's Breakdown.- 6. Institutionalizing Instability: Prologue to a Farce or Tragedy.- 7. The Long Shadow of Colombia’s National Front Era.- 8. Democratic Purgatory and Dictatorships in Nicaragua.- 9. Democratic Purgatory428F.- 10. Conclusion: Representing the General Will.  52

This book addresses the breakdown of failed democratic systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. The scope of this investigation is a study of political systems of Venezuela, Colombia, and Nicaragua. The implications of the present research on democratic purgatory have real-world applications not only for the above countries but also for those political systems that are currently transitioning and/or consolidating their democracies as well.  Christopher M. Brown is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Georgia Southern University, USA. His primary research agenda addresses normative issues of democratization and democracy theory. He is the author of Constructing International Studies and Introduction to International Studies.

Introduces a new concept of 'purgatory democracy'Compares and contrasts experiences of failed democracy across Latin America and the CaribbeanExpands the current literature on transitioning democracies