Book Review: Other Areas
| Date | 01 May 2007 |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1478-9299.2007.00132_7.x |
| Published date | 01 May 2007 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
301
theoretical arguments and highlights the related
Other Areas
issues
by
examining
international
relations
theory and humanitarian intervention, focusing
Institutional Reforms: The Case of Colom-
specifically on the limitations of sovereignty, the
bia by Alberto Alesina (ed.). Cambridge MA:
(humanitarian) responsibilities of sovereignty and
MIT Press, 2005. 373pp., £22.95, ISBN 0 262
the legal and ethical objections to humanitarian
51182 7
intervention; while Part II examines the politics
and practice of humanitarian intervention, firstly
Renowned scholars from the United States,
in terms of the United Nations and secondly
Europe and Colombia study economic, political
through specific case studies including the
and social institutions in Colombia from the
Balkans (Bosnia and Kosovo), Africa (Somalia,
perspective of standard economic and public
Rwanda and Sierra Leone) which is seen as ‘the
choice theory or what they call the ‘new politi-
testing ground for the theory and practice of
cal economics’ framework. They train their sights
humanitarian intervention’ (p. 126), East Timor
on problems such as executive–legislative branch
and the recent US intervention in Afghanistan
conflict, the electoral system, education reform,
(in terms of political similarities). The evidence
the role of the Central Bank, fragmented politi-
thus presented ensures one overall conclusion:
cal parties, crime punishment and prevention,
while humanitarian intervention ‘can be legiti-
inefficient and ineffectual decentralization and
mized in extreme cases’ (p. 4) it will unfortu-
misguided social spending programs. Their aim is
nately remain more the exception than the
not only to shed theoretical light on those prob-
norm in the future.
lems and institutions but also to offer practical
The book is excellently written and edited.
recommendations
for
policy
reform. These
While the theoretical arguments are clearly laid
rather detailed policy proposals are said to be
out in the first part of the book, they are expertly
politically feasible and to require minimal legis-
weaved in and out of the case studies, thus
lative action, albeit proof of this is generally not
grounding the theory in practice rather than
given.
allowing theoretical evidence to take over. It
Colombia shares a host of similarities with
clearly illustrates the conflicting difficulties faced
other countries in the region, yet also has unique
by scholars and practitioners alike in try-
differences. While we find political instability,
ing to balance the opposing norms of ‘those
widespread corruption and high levels of rural
committed to state autonomy and the self-
poverty virtually everywhere in Latin America,
determination of peoples and those committed to
Colombia’s economy has had distinctive features
the protection of individual human rights’ (p.
such as a long-run relative macroeconomic stabil-
176), starkly illustrated by the continuing difficul-
ity without periods of hyperinflation as well as
ties in Iraq today. This book makes a fine contri-
relative fiscal balance and the least unequally
bution to this ongoing debate and is essential
distributed income in the region. However, what
reading for academics and policy-makers alike.
sets Colombia apart from the rest of the region is
the inextricable link between the legal economy,
Sandra Buchanan
violent crime, the civil war and the effects of the
(University of Ulster)
illegal narcotics trade. The second chapter pro-
vides a brief, digestible overview of the recent
economic history of the country, apt for the
We welcome short reviews of books in all
uninitiated reader.
areas of politics and international relations.
The Constitution of 1991 and the Constitu-
For guidelines on submitting reviews, and
tional Court’s strict application of its articles
to see an up-to-date listing of books avail-
feature as the main culprit for implementing
able for review, please visit http://www.
institutional reforms. According to the authors,
politicalstudiesreview.org/.
the Constitution’s complex structure and ‘rigid
© 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2007, 5(2)
302
O T H E R A R E A S
micromanagement’ (p. 5) leave the country
groups to form and engage in collective action for
under a stiffening Damocles sword for much-
supporting or opposing the reforms.The research
needed policy flexibility. Unsurprisingly, the
design for scrutinizing this thesis is largely quali-
authors recommend reining in the power of the
tative, consisting of a comparative case study
Constitutional Court, especially in economic
analysis and the use of counterfactuals. Due to its
matters.
theoretical focus on the costs and benefits of the
One has to wonder whether the full-scale
policies implemented, the study may attract Latin
attack on the 1991 Constitution is wholly
Americanists and policy analysts alike.
justified. Many observers celebrate the practical
Arce’s central argument is plausible and subject
and symbolic achievements of the Constitution,
to a consistent analysis.The author surely succeeds
marking a new era of national conciliation and
in demonstrating how societal actors in Peru have
guaranteeing the political rights of the nascent
managed to affect and reshape reform policies.The
democratic left in the country. It is undoubtedly a
innovative component of the book is not its theo-
compromise
document
negotiated
between
retical argument, as the conception of a two-way
antagonistic political groups, each afraid of giving
relationship between state reformers and collective
up too much of their interests for the price of
actors in civil society is rather straightforward.
ending internal conflict.
What turns this book, however, into a noteworthy
Unfortunately, the book does not take into
piece of work is its adoption of an x-centred
account the implications of the recent re-election
research perspective. In this regard, the author
of President Álvaro Uribe after having changed
focuses on the effects of a particular cause rather
the Constitution to allow him to run for a second
than explaining the entire variation of the depen-
time. It would have been useful to lay out the
dent variable as it is practised with y-centred
...
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