"In this remarkable book, Tom s Dosek makes a splendid contribution to the literature on subnational politics and the informal political practices that explain the continuity--and eventual downfall--of local caudillos. Through rich, in-depth comparisons of six municipalities in three countries, the book illuminates the understudied local politics of unitary countries." --Jacqueline Behrend, CONICET-Universidad Nacional de San Mart n "Prior work on subnational undemocratic regimes has largely focused on federal countries, and mostly on second-tier governments. This book departs from that tradition by shifting the locus of analysis to unitary countries and third-tier governments (i.e., municipalities). Drawing on extensive fieldwork, rigorous analysis, and theoretical depth, Dosek offers a new and critical understanding of subnational political regimes dynamics. The Persistence of Local Caudillos in Latin America is an essential reading for scholars of subnational politics and democracy." --Agustina Giraudy, American University