Brings together leading scholars to examine the question of whether presidentialism or parliamentarism offers the best hope for stable government and democratic continuity. This edition offers comparative perspectives.

Presidentialism and majoritarian democracy - theoretical observations, Arend Lijphart; neither presidentialism nor parliamentarism, Giovanni Sartori; presidentialism and parliamentarism in comparative perspective, Alfred Stepan and Cindy Skach; presidentialism and political stability in France, Ezra N. Suleiman.

This book is already a classic and is bound to be widely read and cited for many years to come. -- Matthew Soberg Shugart Journal of Democracy An impressive and valuable book, with a first-class roster of contributors, and rewards a careful reading. -- Martin C. Needler Studies in Comparative International Development

With a superb cast of contributors and a well-chosen sample of countries, The Failure of Presidential Democracy treats a central issue in the world today, as more and more countries try to construct durable democracies. It also reflects the new emphasis in political science on institutions, an area that has been sorely neglected in Latin American studies. Indeed, the book fills a huge informational and analytical gap on institutional arrangements in Latin American political systems. This is a stimulating, thoughtful, and relevant book—well suited to classroom use in courses on comparative politics and Latin American politics.—Paul W. Drake, University of California, San Diego

With a superb cast of contributors and a well-chosen sample of countries, The Failure of Presidential Democracy treats a central issue in the world today, as more and more countries try to construct durable democracies. It also reflects the new emphasis in political science on institutions, an area that has been sorely neglected in Latin American studies. Indeed, the book fills a huge informational and analytical gap on institutional arrangements in Latin American political systems. This is a stimulating, thoughtful, and relevant book-well suited to classroom use in courses on comparative politics and Latin American politics. -- Paul W. Drake, University of California, San Diego