Civil Society and Electoral Accountability in Latin America

What is the role of civic associations in generating electoral accountability, and how do efforts by national groups to ensure free and fair elections advance democratic consolidation? Lean advances our understanding of how civic activism can strengthen election processes and provides new insight into role of elections for democratic consolidation.

"An informative, helpful resource . . . Following on the heels of the recent Venezuelan election, this book provides an excellent resource for educators interested in contextualizing democratic change through responsible civic movements . . . Highly recommended." - Choice

"As elections have spread to nearly every country in the world, domestic election observers have not yet received the comprehensive academic treatment they deserve. Lean provides an insightful, accessible, and much needed analysis of the power of these organizations, as well as the challenges they continue to face in encouraging democratic development. Civil Society and Electoral Accountability in Latin America is required reading for anyone interested in democracy promotion or the role of civil society in democratization." - Susan D. Hyde, associate professor, Yale University

"In addressing the impact of domestic election monitoring organizations on electoral accountability and democratization in the Americas, Lean documents an important phenomenon that has received relatively little academic attention. By explaining how domestic election monitoring builds social capital, Civil Society and Electoral Accountability in Latin America will enrich understanding about the role of civil society in consolidating democracy and reinforcing democratic norms. Beyond improving the quality of particular elections, domestic election monitoring can also spur democracy by energizing civil society, involving citizens more broadly in public affairs, and focusing attention on the need for civic education and political reform. In this way, domestic monitoring both differs from and complements international election observation. This book represents an extremely important contribution to the understanding of the complex relationship among civil society, electoral accountability, and democratization." - Eric Bjornlund, president, Democracy International, and author, Beyond Free and Fair: Monitoring Elections and Building Democracy

Sharon F. Lean is an assistant professor of Political Science at Wayne State University.