Modern Latin America / Edition 7

by Thomas Skidmore

Overview

Now thoroughly updated in its seventh edition, Modern Latin America is a lively interpretive history and the leading text in the field. Featuring vivid anecdotal illustrative boxes, the book uses case studies to discuss the major countries and themes of the region over the past 150 years.

Modern Latin America, Seventh Edition, will continue to be an exceptional text for undergraduate courses on contemporary Latin American history, society, and politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2900195375700
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/25/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	480
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

Thomas E. Skidmore is Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Professor of History Emeritus at Brown University. He is the author of Brazil: Five Centuries of Change (OUP 1999), Politics in Brazil 1930-1964 (OUP 2007), The Politics of Military Rule in Brazil (OUP 1990), and Black into White (Duke University Press 1993).Peter H. Smith is Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Simon Bolivar Professor of Latin American Studes at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of Democracy in Latin America (OUP 2005) and Talons of the Eagle, 3e (OUP 2008).James N. Green is Associate Professor of History and Brazilian Studies at Brown University. He is the author of Beyond Carnival: Male Homosexuality in Twentieth-century Brazil (University of Chicago 1999).

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Part 1 Questions And Contexts 1

1 Why Latin America? 3

Contrast and Paradox 5

2 The Colonial Foundations 14

Prelude to Conquest 14

Colonial Spanish America 16

Portugueses America: A Different World? 23

Independence for Latin America 27

The Pull of the International Economy 40

Part 2 Cast Studies: Change Over Time 43

3 Mexico: The Taming of a Revolution 45

From Colony to Nationhood 45

The Mexican Revolution 54

Politics and Policy: Patterns of Change 58

The Contemporary Scene (1994-present) 75

4 Central America and the Caribbean: Within the U.S. Orbit 82

World Powers, the United States, and the Greater Caribbean 82

From Colonies to Nationhood 86

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 91

Politics and Policy: Panama 97

Politics and Policy: Nicaragua 100

Politics and Policy: El Salvador 104

Politics and Policy: Guatemala 108

Politics and Policy: The Dominican Republic 111

Politics and Policy: Haiti 113

Politics and Policy: Puerto Rico 117

5 Cuba: Key Colony, Socialist State 121

From Colony to Nationhood 121

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 124

Politics and Policy: Patterns of Change 128

The Cuban Revolution 132

Framing U.S. Policies 136

Policy Experimentation and Regime Consolidation 140

The Contemporary Scene (1990-present) 146

6 The Andes: Soldiers, Oligarchs, and Indians 150

From Colony to Nationhood 151

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 153

Politics and Policy: Peru 163

Politics and Policy: Bolivia 173

Politics and Policy: Ecuador 184

7 Colombia: Civility and Violence 191

From Colonyto Nationhood 191

Creating Political Parties 194

The Loss of Panama 197

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 198

Politics and Policies: Patterns of Change 203

The Contemporary Scene (1990-present) 211

8 Venezula: The Perils of Prosperity 219

From Colony to Nationhood 220

Gunoats and Diplomacy 224

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 226

Politics and Policy: Patterns of Change 230

The Contemporary Scene (1998-present) 236

9 Argentina: Progress and Stalemate 244

From Colony to Nationhood 244

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 248

Politics and Policy: Patterns of Change 253

The Contemporary Scene (1983-present) 271

10 Chile: Repression and Democracy 278

From Colony to Nationhood 278

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 280

Politics and Policy: Patterns of Change 284

The Contemporary Scene (1990-present) 304

11 Brazil: The Awakening Giant 306

From Colony to Nationhood 306

Overview: Economic Growth and Social Change 315

Politics and Policy: Patterns of Change 321

The Contemporary Scene (1994-present) 343

Part 3 Themes And Reflections 349

12 Strategies for Economic Development 351

Narratives of Backwardness 352

The Liberal Era (1880s-1920s) 353

Import-Substitution Industrialization (1930s-1970s) 358

The Socialist Alternative (1950s-1980s) 362

Neoliberalism-Once Dominant, Now Challenged (1980s-present) 368

13 Dynamics of Political Transformation 376

Oligarchic Rule and Top-Down Reform (1880s-1920s) 377

Populism and Dictatorship (1930s-1970s) 379

The Revolutionary Path (1950s-1980s) 386

A Renewal of Democracy (1980s-present) 389

Explorations in Comparative Analysis 394

14 Culture and Society 403

From Colonies to Nations 404

Literature, Art, and New Ideas in a World Economy 409

Nationalism, Radical Politics, and Turbulent Times 414

Latin America Culture Enters a World Market 423

Dictatorship, Democracy, and New Social Movements 431

Glossary 438

Guide to Website 443

Index 445

Editorial Reviews

"The most concise, up-to-date, academically sound overview on the region. A must for faculty and students studying
Latin America."—Jose Morales, New Jersey City University

"A classic in Latin American history and politics. . . . comprehensive, informative, well written, and pitched at the right level for an undergraduate text or as background material for a graduate class. The overall structure of the book-general history, followed by case studies, followed by a return to broader comparisons-makes sense."—Chapell Lawson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Discussions of political structures are detailed and persuasive, and students get a clear picture of the place of Latin American nations in the global economy."—Jurgen Buchenuau, Hispanic American Historical Review

From the Publisher