Courts & Power in Latin America & Africa

Siri Gloppen, Bruce M. Wilson, Roberto Gargarella, Elin Skaar, and Morten Kinander (2010)

New York: Palgrave Macmillan 231 p.

Why do courts hold political power-holders accountable in some democratic and democratizing countries, but not in others?  And, why do some courts remain very timid while others—under seemingly similar circumstances—become “hyper-active”? These are questions of central theoretical and practical importance in a context of increasing juridification of politics in many parts of the world, combined […]

Courts & Social Transformation

Roberto Gargarella, Pilar Domingo and Theunis Roux, editors (2006)

Aldershot/Burlington: Ashgate 311 p

Using case studies drawn from Latin America, Africa, India and Eastern Europe, this volume examines the role of courts as a channel for social transformation for excluded sectors of society in contemporary democracies. With a focus on social rightsd litigation in post-authoriatarian regimes or in the context of fragile state control, the contributors assess the […]

Democratization & the Judiciary: Accountability Function of Courts

Siri Gloppen, Roberto Gargarella and Elin Skaar (eds.) (2004)

London: Frank Cass 210 p.

This volume examines the political role of courts in new democracies in Latin America and Africa. Are the courts able to hold political power-holders accountable when they act outside of their constitutionally defined powers? Given the hyper-presidential nature of these regimes, particular focus is on the ability of the courts to say “no” to the […]