Conclusion

This concluding chapter considers the theoretical, empirical, and normative implications of the book’s argument. The first section discusses its contributions to two classic findings in the party-building literature about the importance of (1) mobilizing structures and (2) polarization and conflict. The second section shows that the authoritarian successor parties discussed in preceding chapters are part of a much larger phenomenon. It highlights the prevalence and diversity of authoritarian successor parties in Latin America in particular, discussing several additional cases not covered in previous chapters and presenting questions for future research. The final section considers the effects of authoritarian successor parties on democracy. It argues that while these parties can be harmful in several ways, they can also contribute to democratic stability by incorporating potential “spoilers” into the new regime—especially when they double as conservative parties.