Bulletin n. 2/2016 | ||
December 2016 | ||
Magna Inácio and Mariana Llanos |
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The Institutional Presidency in Latin America: A Comparative Analysis | ||
in Presidential Studies Quarterly , Volume 46, Issue 3 , 2016 , 531–549 | ||
This article focuses on the evolution of the institutional presidency in six Latin American presidential democracies since the last wave of redemocratization. Institutional presidency refers to the bulk of agencies that operate under direct presidential authority and are in charge of supporting the presidential leadership. We document all structural changes occurring under the umbrella of the president for the period of analysis. We find that the expansion in the number of presidential agencies is a deliberate response to situations of conflict or weakness. It is more likely under coalitional presidentialism—when presidents must share cabinet positions and manage relationships with coalition partners—as well as when presidents implement structural reform policies to face critical economic circumstances. | ||