Semi-Presidentialism

Abstract

This book takes stock of what we have learned to date about the impact of semi-presidentialism on democracy from a cross-regional perspective. We do so by discussing institutional choice, operational subtypes, system performance, and the evolution of semi-presidentialism, following a logical sequence. In so doing, the present volume covers more ground than any previous work on semi-presidentialism, both in terms of comprehensive coverage of regions where the system concentrates, and in terms of a full institutional approach that looks at the upstream, midstream, downstream, and evolution of the system. Starting with a reliable definition of the concept of semi-presidentialism that is based on core constitutional features and is adopted throughout the volume, contributors investigate the presence of general patterns of systematic variation across the very diverse universe of cases of semi-presidentialism and their performance. The authors illustrate the actual dynamics of this widely adopted constitutional form through chapters that cover all regions in the world where semi-presidentialism is found; they review the performance of semi-presidentialism in successful democracies, in countries where democracy has broken down, and in countries where democracy has thus far survived but with many challenges.