Democracy in Latin America: Patterns and Cycles

by Roderic Ai Camp (Editor)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780842025126
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/1995
Series:	Jaguar Books on Latin America , #10
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	7.12(w) x 9.22(h) x 1.11(d)

Table of Contents

Part 1 I. What is Democratization in Latin America? Chapter 2 Democracy and Development: An Overview Chapter 3 Dilemmas of Democratization in Latin America Part 4 II. The Political Heritage: Culture, Structures, and Authoritarianism Chapter 5 Two Cultures and Political Behavior in Latin America Chapter 6 Political Culture and Democratization in Latin America Chapter 7 Lost Promise: Explaining Latin American Underdevelopment Chapter 8 Authoritarianism and Corporatism in Latin America: The Modal Pattern Part 9 III. Agents of Political Change: Religion, Militarism, Electioneering, and Nongovernmental Organizations Chapter 10 Civil-Military Relations in a Democratic Framework Chapter 11 From Church and State to Religion and Politics and Back Again Chapter 12 Electioneering in Latin America Chapter 13 Nongovernmental Organizations in Latin America Part 14 IV. Consequences of Democratization: Case Studies in Change Chapter 15 Brazil under Collor, Anatomy of a Crisis Chapter 16 The Political Impact of Free Trade on Mexico Chapter 17 Democracy and Economic Crisis: The Latin American Experience Chapter 18 Suggested Readings

Editorial Reviews

This book is to be recommended, especially for students of Latin American affairs, who will obtain a very good overview not only of the basic patterns and facts, but also their theoretical meaning.

Notas

This book is to be recommended, especially for students of Latin American affairs, who will obtain a very good overview not only of the basic patterns and facts, but also their theoretical meaning.--Notas

Required reading for serious students of Latin American affairs.--Library Journal

From the Publisher

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.

Library Journal

A collection of 13 essays on the history and current status of democracy in Latin America and prospects for its future. They cover the meaning of democratization, the political and cultural heritage, agents of political change, and case studies of Brazil and Mexico. Camp warns that capitalist democracy is doing little if any better solving economic problems than socialist centrism did, and may meet the same fate if things do not start improving soon. A source of perspectives for students and general readers. No index. Paper edition (unseen), $16.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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