Background
Seligson, Mitchell A. was born on November 12, 1945 in Hempstead, New York, United States. Son of Morris and Ethel (Finkel) Seligson.
(Political scientists for more than two decades have worri...)
Political scientists for more than two decades have worried about declining levels of citizens' support for their regimes (legitimacy), but have failed to empirically link this decline to the survival or breakdown of democracy. This apparent paradox is the "legitimacy puzzle," which this book addresses by examining political legitimacy's structure, sources, and effects. With exhaustive empirical analysis of high-quality survey data from eight Latin American nations, it confirms that legitimacy exists as multiple, distinct dimensions. It finds that one's position in society, education, knowledge, information, and experiences shape legitimacy norms. Contrary to expectations, however, citizens who are unhappy with their government's performance do not drop out of politics or resort mainly to destabilizing protest. Rather, the disaffected citizens of these Latin American democracies participate at high rates in conventional politics and in such alternative arenas as communal improvement and civil society. And despite regime performance problems, citizen support for democracy remains high. These findings resolve the puzzle - citizen actions and values, even among the disaffected, likely strengthen rather than weaken democratic governments.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521734207/?tag=2022091-20
( This book, which traces the evolution of the Costa Rica...)
This book, which traces the evolution of the Costa Rican peasantry from colonial times to the present, focuses on the impact of agrarian capitalism, a key factor in the social and political change of the Costa Rican peasant society. Scholars and students in political science, sociology, economics, agricultural history, the history of politics of Central America, and all whose interests include the study of peasant movements and behavior will welcome it. It is, in a large sense, a story of peasant nonrebellion, providing a new interpretation of Costa Rica by redefining the image of the yeoman peasant. Mitchell A. Seligson draws upon a wealth of historical and census materials, as well as extensive interview data, in drawing his conclusions. Whereas most recent studies of peasants focus on the historical or the contemporary, this study overlooks neither, placing the present situation in the context of a detailed historical treatment. In contrast with the many studies emphasizing peasant rebellion, Seligson argues that peasants, when displaced by radical economic change, turn to violence only as a last resort. Given an alternative, they have gone far in adapting to change such as, in this case, the introduction of agro-capitalism. The author shows how and why the Costa Ricans have been transformed from a homogenous society of small landowners to a stratified society where landless agricultural workers predominate. The second part of the book examines the present situation of the peasants in the light of history. Nearly three-quarters of Costa Rican peasant today are without land, and the distribution of land among landowners is vastly unequal. Using interviews that he conducted on a sample of more than five hundred peasants, Seligson uncovered strong evidence pointing to insecurity as a fundamental concern of the contemporary peasant. In response to this insecurity, many peasants have become squatters, a debilitating situation which the government has been attempting to correct through a land reform program. Scholars who are investigating land reform in other nations can find major implications in this original research.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0299077608/?tag=2022091-20
(This new edition of Development and Underdevelopment reta...)
This new edition of Development and Underdevelopment retains the strongest contributions of the previous three editions, but includes 12 new chapters that reflect the many seminal contributions made to the field in recent years. There are also two new sections: one addressing the historical origins of the gap between rich and poor countries, and one focusing on how globalization has affected the gap between countries and between the rich and poor within countries. The editors short introduction to each selection, highlighting its significance, remains a key feature of the book.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1588265846/?tag=2022091-20
(The fifth edition of this classic reader retains many of ...)
The fifth edition of this classic reader retains many of the articles that have made the book a must-assign for classes on development and political economy, but has been updated with 14 new chapters that look even more deeply at long-term factors that help to explain the origins and current trends in the gap between rich and poor. An entirely new section focuses on natural resource and environmental issues, and the appendix of wealth and inequality indicators has been fully revised. The editors’ short introduction to each selection, highlighting its significance, remains a key feature of the book.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1626370311/?tag=2022091-20
Latin American studies educator
Seligson, Mitchell A. was born on November 12, 1945 in Hempstead, New York, United States. Son of Morris and Ethel (Finkel) Seligson.
Bachelor cum laude, Brooklyn College, 1967. Master of Arts, University Florida, 1968. Doctor of Philosophy, University Pittsburgh, 1974.
Volunteer United States Peace Corps, Costa Rica, 1968-1970. Assistant professor./associate professor University Arizona, Tucson, 1974-1985. Professor University Pittsburgh, 1986-1993, Daniel H. Wallace professor political science, 1994—2004, director Latin American studies, 1986-1992, research professor, 1992—2004.
Centennial professor political science Vanderbilt University, Nashville, since 2004. Director Latin America public opinion project. Consultant to World Bank, United Nations Development Program, United States Agency for International Development, Inter-American Development Bank, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Jamaica, Panama, El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, since 1980.
(The fifth edition of this classic reader retains many of ...)
( This book, which traces the evolution of the Costa Rica...)
(This new edition of Development and Underdevelopment reta...)
(Political scientists for more than two decades have worri...)
(Book by Seligson, Mitchell A. (ed). The)
Member American Political Science Association, Latin American Studies Association (chairman finance committee 1991).
Married Susan Berk, June 18, 1967. 1 child, Amber Lara.