Bureaucratic Authoritarianism: Argentina, 1966-1973, In Comparative Perspective

Latin America's most influential political scientist, focusing sharply on his native Argentina, analyzes the origins and modes of operation of the pervasively repressive state that first arose in Brazil in 1964 and emerged in Argentina in 1966, and for which the author coined the "bureaucratic authoritarianism" label that has been widely accepted in the academic literature. Drawing on insights about politics, economics, culture and psychology, O'Donnell explains the otherwise inexplicable Argentine turn toward unspeakable violence and repression. A brilliant but difficult book.