Democracy in Latin America

Events such as the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement have made it imperative for students to grasp the history and possible directions of Latin American political change. This title gives readers both the background and the analytical models necessary for an accurate understanding of this area's political past and future. To examine the problems posed by political development, Professor Camp has divided this volume into four parts. The first section sets the tone, with two introductory essays providing an overview of the problems and dilemmas posed by democratization. The other three parts explore important aspects of this overall process.

This scholarly collection discusses recent trends in Latin America's road toward economic maturity and participatory government. The 13 essays show how political and governmental institutions are struggling to reach a level of democratization that has already been institutionalized in many modern industrialized countries. The authors also show how the current political liberalization has been influenced and mitigated by the cultural, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the region. Latin America's quest for economic development and political democracy illustrates the clash of ideas between socialism and capitalism, free vs. controlled economies, representative government vs. authoritarian rule, and a quest for the proper mix of civilian and military control. The consensus here is that the current wave of democracy is promising but still reflects a historically cyclical pattern subject to variation and instability. Required reading for serious students of Latin American affairs.?Philip Y. Blue, Briarcliff Coll. Lib., Woodbury, N.Y.
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