Ambition, Federalism, and Legislative Politics in Brazil / Edition 1

by David Samuels

Overview

This book explores the interpretation of politicians' career goals. Members seek to win repeated reelection, in the U.S. House of Representatives and political scientists have assumed that reelection motivates politicians everywhere. However, politicians in Brazil see the national legislature as a stepping-stone to "higher" office, in state and/or local government. Making the right assumption about politicians' career goals results in a better understanding of the political processes. This book improves on previous "rational choice" analyses by researching political career objectives and exploring real-world implications.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521816717
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/24/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.70(d)

Table of Contents

List of tables and figures; Abbreviations and acronyms; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Part I: 1. Ambition theory and political careers in Brazil; 2. In the absence of congressional careerism: short stints, flat hierarchies and low payoffs in the chamber of deputies; 3. Progressive ambition and congressional 'hot seats' in Brazil, 1945–98; 4. Labyrinths of power, Brazilian style: post-chamber political careers; Part II: 5. The 'Gubematorial coattails effect': federalism and congressional elections in Brazil; Part III: 6. On the political (in)efficacy of pork-barreling in the chamber of deputies; 7. Progressive ambition, federalism and pork-barreling in Brazil; 8. Institutions of their own design? democratization and fiscal decentralization in Brazil, 1975–95; 9. The Cardoso administration and changes in Brazilian federalism; Conclusion; Appendices; References; Indexes.

Editorial Reviews

"Recommended."
Choice

"[Makes] an original argument ... by combining a study of legislative politics with the study of federalism ... [Samuels] provides the reader with a well-articulated and fairly comprehensive tour of contemporary Brazilian politics."
The Americas

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