Transitions from Authoritarian Rule: Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies

Abstract

Political science scholars consider four-volume work Transitions from Authoritarian Rule to be a foundational text for studying process of democratization, specifically in those cases where an authoritarian regime is giving way to some form of democratic government. The most important of four books is without a doubt fourth volume, Tentative Conclusions about Uncertain Democracies, also known as the little green book. Transitions from Authoritarian Rule was first book in any language to systematically compare process of transition from authoritarianism across a broad range of countries. Political democracy is not only possible outcome. Guillermo O'Donnell, Philippe C. Schmitter, and Laurence Whitehead emphasize that it's not revolution but transition that is critical to growth of a democratic state. This ground-breaking insight remains highly relevant as ramifications of Arab Spring continue to play out. This reissue features a new foreword by Cynthia J. Arnson, director of Latin American Program at Woodow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Abraham F. Lowenthal, founding director of Latin American Program, who wrote original volume's foreword.

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