They really view their history as one of victimization, one of struggle and even martyrdom. ARENA had multiple leaders assassinated. Again, that version of history that I just told you, that's not necessarily my view. But I do actually believe that that is their sincere belief and it makes for a really compelling founding myth if you will. And I think that founding myth has helped to hold both parties together right up until the present day.

James Loxton

A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com.

Key Highlights Include

• Why do voters elect leaders with ties to former dictators?
• Description of authoritarian successor parties
• Challenges for conservative party formation
• A brief history of the UDI in Chile and ARENA in El Salvador
• The role of counterrevolutionary struggle

Key Links

Conservative Party-Building in Latin America: Authoritarian Inheritance and Counterrevolutionary Struggle by James Loxton

"Authoritarian Successor Parties" by James Loxton in Journal of Democracy, July 2015

Visit James at www.jamesloxton.net

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