The Politics of Healthcare Expansion : Policy Reform and Political Parties in Latin America

This book provides a vital analysis of healthcare reform, political parties, and policy change in Latin America. It is an ideal resource for scholars, students, and policy professionals focused on political science, public policy, social policy, public health, and Latin American studies.

Combining compelling field research with sharp analysis, The Politics of Healthcare Expansion unravels why efforts to expand equitable healthcare so often fall short – and why some succeed. Through comparative case studies from Chile, Mexico, and Peru, this book reveals how political party commitment, or the lack of it, shapes the design, implementation, and sustainability of healthcare reform. Moving beyond ideology, it demonstrates the crucial role of programmatic party engagement and analyzes the impact of technocrats and external actors when political parties are weak or disengaged. With timely lessons highlighted by the region's COVID-19 experience, this book offers rigorous insights and practical implications for anyone seeking to understand or influence social policy reform in emerging democracies.