Burton (Mohammed Bin Rashid School) and Goertzel (Rutgers) approach an old issue in an innovative manner. They examine the question of what factors lead to transformational presidents but do so in a comparative manner with the US and Latin America. The analysis tries to bridge the disciplines of history and political science. The authors desire the detail and context of history along with the generalizability of political science. The theoretical framework, however, is drawn mainly from political science....There is much in this book to be commended, especially the conscious effort to bring in historical and political science approaches.

Choice Reviews

This book constitutes the first attempt at a systematic study of presidential leadership in the Americas since Independence. Inspired by the contributions of James MacGregor Burns and Stephen Skowronek on the United States, Burton and Goertzel identify the outstanding leaders of the United States and seven Latin American countries. . . relate their contributions to their countries’ history, and compare the emergent patterns across nations. Their contribution is therefore both methodological and substantive. . . . The book’s contributions. . . pose interesting challenges to both historians and political scientists.

Reviews

This fascinating book gives a sweeping account of nearly 200 years of history to determine which presidents in the US and seven Latin American countries were the most ‘transformational’, for good or for ill. The book identifies and ranks outstanding leaders and justifies those choices with detailed historical and institutional analysis. By focusing primarily on historical moments when great change took place, the authors uncover the first-order impact of presidents and highlight the many ways through which that impact can unfold.

Bernardo Mueller, Universidade de Brasília