Synopses & Reviews
This book looks at the evolution of OAS multilateralism for democracy and the lessons its experience holds for other multilateral contexts. It also tackles the theoretical challenge of bridging the traditional divide between international relations and comparative politics. The book stresses the need for conceptual tools that allow scholars to take into consideration the transnationalization of democratization processes in their analysis, where previous emphasis was placed on domestic variables in regime change. The growing role of the OAS, the Rio Group, foreign governments, and international NGOs in democracy assistance underscores the transnational nature of current democratization trends. The authors present an "inter-active" approach to tackle the dilemma of the inter-relation between internal and external factors
Review
"This volume is an important contribution to the discussion of multilateralism and the defense of democracy. Focusing on the OAS, the authors provide a clear explanation of the complexities of multilateral action in defense of democracy, a candid evaluation of the constraints on the OAS, and a hopeful appraisal of the new multilateralism in support of democracy in the hemisphere. This is a book that all students of hemispheric affairs will want to read."-- Joseph Tulchin, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholar
"Cooper and Legler have written a very important and impressive book, at the intersection of democracy and multilateralism in the Americas. Their argument about the role the OAS has played in Peru and Venezuela is highly persuasive, and buttressed by detailed, scrupulous research and a solid conceptual framework. This timely book offers invaluable policy guidance, and should be read by both practitioners and scholars. It is commendably level-headed, yet inspired by a deep concern for collectively defending and promoting democracy in the Americas."
--Michael Shifter, Vice President for Policy, Inter-American Dialogue and Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University
"Tom Legler and Andrew Cooper have written a penetrating and authoritative book about the promotion and defense of democracy in the Americas. "Intervention without Intervening" should be read by everyone interested in international aspects of democratization. It appraises a model of collective support for democracy based on multilateralism and soft power, not unilateralism and military intervention. This is a timely and readable account of how the international community can better support new democracies in Latin America."
-- Maxwell A. Cameron, Department of Political Science, the University of
British Columbia
"This an important study of regional evolution and integration." -- A. Siaroff, University of Lethbridge, Choice Magazine
About the Author
Andrew F. Cooper is Associate Director and Distinguished Fellow of The Centre for International Governance Innovation and Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo. Thomas Legler is Assistant Professor of International Relations at Mount Allison University.
Table of Contents
Introduction: A New Model for Intervention? * The Rise of the OAS Democratic Solidarity Paradigm* The Birth of a New Model?: The OAS in Peru * Learning from Peru?: The Birth of the Inter-American Democratic Charter * Passing the (First) Test: the OAS, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and the Venezuelan Coup * With a Little Help from My Friends: The Ongoing Crisis in Venezuela * Conclusion