Crafting Courts in New Democracies
The Politics of Subnational Judicial Reform in Brazil and Mexico

This book explores the importance of local courts in enacting positive social and economic reform in Brazil and Mexico.

Matthew C. Ingram (Author)

9781107539907, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 27 July 2017

391 pages, 21 b/w illus. 10 maps 18 tables
23 x 15.4 x 2.2 cm, 0.6 kg

'The theoretical scope of the book is … broad, making contributions to the study of courts, comparative law, and the amplification of court strength while also addressing the literature that closed in on phenomena of uneven development across subnational units.' Jan Boesten, Latin American Research Review

The role of Latin American courts in facilitating democracy and economic liberalization is considerable. But while national 'high courts' have been closely studied, the form, function, and empowerment of local courts are still not well understood. In Crafting Courts in New Democracies, Matthew C. Ingram fills this gap by examining the varying strength of local judicial institutions in Brazil and Mexico since the 1980s. Combining statistical analysis and in-depth qualitative research, Ingram offers a rich account of the politics that shape subnational court reform in the region's two largest democracies. In contrast to previous studies, theoretical emphasis is given to the influence of political ideas over the traditional focus on objective, material incentives. Exhaustively researched and rigorously presented, this book will appeal to scholars and policymakers interested in the judiciary, institutional change, Latin America, the causal role of ideas, justice reform, and the rule of law.

1. Crafting courts in new democracies
Part I. Theory and Methods: 2. Ideas, interests, and judicial institutions
3. Methods
Part II. Empirical Analysis: 4. Large-N analysis in Mexico (1993–2007)
5. Large-N analysis in Brazil (1985–2006)
6. Small-N analysis in Mexico: Aguascalientes, Michoacán, and Hidalgo
7. Small-N Analysis in Brazil: Acre, Rio Grande do Sul, and Maranhão
Part III. Conclusion: 8. Crafting courts in new democracies: beyond Brazil and Mexico
Appendices.

Subject Areas: Comparative law [LAM], Law [L], Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP], Hispanic & Latino studies [JFSL4]