Political culture in Panama : democracy after invasion / Orlando J. Pérez.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [175]-191) and index.

Democracy in post-invasion Panama : theory and case -- The shaping of elite political culture during the Ancien regime, 1903-1968 -- An enduring relationship : the military and politics in twentieth-century Panama -- Ending the relationship : economic crisis, political opposition, and the U.S. military invasion, 1981-1989 -- Demilitarization and elections : institutional reconversion in post-invasion Panama -- Reconciliation and social dialogue in post-invasion Panama -- Mass democratic culture in Panama : the meaning of democracy -- Supporting stable democracy : system support and political tolerance -- Conclusions and implications : can democracy emerge after invasion?

"Twenty years have passed since the 1989 U.S. invasion that toppled Panama's military regime and initiated a period of democratization. This book represents the most comprehensive and empirically grounded analysis of the institutional and attitudinal factors that have shaped Panamanian politics since the invasion. Using quantitative and qualitative methods the book traces the development of the Panamanian nation-state from its early days after independence from Colombia, to the struggles to build democracy after the U.S. invasion, through the presidential elections of May 2009. The study makes use of extensive interviews with political and economic elites, as well as the most comprehensive series of public opinion surveys ever conducted in Panama. As such, they provide a wealth of data on democratic values and allow placing Panama in a comparative perspective"--Provided by publisher.