Has There Been ‘Progress’ in the Characteristic Life of Presidential Republics?

Abstract

The first of the two questions which have to be answered about the past and present of presidential republics is whether there has been ‘progress’ in terms of the fundamental characteristics displayed by these republics, the ‘progress’ which is being referred to in this context being concerned with the very existence of these countries as presidential republics. This kind of ‘progress’ is therefore not merely whether a given presidential republic succeeds in achieving social or economic development more rapidly at some point in time than at another; nor is it even whether certain political characteristics of these regimes are better implemented at some moments of their history than at others. It is about the truly ‘life and death’ question as to whether these countries are or are not presidential republics at certain points in their history, that is to say whether they happen to be, at particular moments, ruled by usurpers.