Review by Choice Review
Cleary (Syracuse Univ.) and Stokes (Yale) are two political scientists at the top of their game. As part of a series on trust, their book investigates the role that trust plays in maintaining cooperative behavior (democracy, in political terms) in society. The emphasis here is on science. Their hypothesis is that skepticism toward politicians, coupled with trust in institutions, is the important ingredient in building democracy. The authors use a series of innovative quantitative and historical methods in Mexico and Argentina. In the process they examine recent political histories of the two countries, delving deeply (and innovatively) into the politics of disparate local regions, comparing those regions in terms of democratization and trust/skepticism regarding both politicians and institutions. This process produces some of the best local political analysis ever written. As a primer in quantitative political research, this book is without peer. As an analysis of local politics in Mexico and Argentina, it has rarely been equaled. This book should be read by every social scientist. It is a classic example of what the discipline of political science can and should be. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through practitioners. E. A. Duff emeritus, Randolph-Macon Woman's College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
