Table of Contents

Preface to the Ninth Edition Part 1: The Latin American Tradition and Process of Development 1. The Context of Latin American Politics [Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade] 2. A Brief History of Latin America [Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade] 3. Actors, Interest Groups, and Political Parties [Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade] 4. State Institutions and Public Policy [Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade] 5. The Political Economy of Latin America [Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade] 6. Latin America and the United States [Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade] 7. The Struggle for Democracy in Latin America [Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade] Part 2: The Political Systems of South America 8. Argentina: The Economic Tango Continues [Linda Chen] 9. Brazil: The Politics of Elite Rule [Britta H. Crandall] 10. Chile: From Democracy to Dictatorship and Back [Peter M. Siavelis] 11. Colombia: Is Guerrilla Violence Near Its End? [Harvey F. Kline] 12. Peru: Overcoming the Authoritarian Legacy at Last? [Julio F. Carrion and David Scott Palmer] 13. Venezuela: Political Decay amid the Struggle for Regime Legitimacy [David J. Myers] 14. Uruguay: Balancing Growth and Democracy [Martin Weinstein and Jorge Rebella] 15. Paraguay: The Uneven Trajectory [Sebastian A. Meyer] 16. Bolivia: Changes, Continuities, and Contradictions [Miguel Centellas] 17. Ecuador: Change and Continuity After Ten Years of New Left Revolution [Jennifer N. Collins] Part 3: The Political Systems of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean 18. Mexico: Democratization and Violence [Jose Luis Velasco] 19. Cuba: Revolution in the Balance? [Juan M. del Aguila, Frank O. Mora, and Brian Fonseca] 20. Costa Rica [Mitchell A. Seligson] 21. Nicaragua: An Uncertain Future [Richard L. Millett] 22. El Salvador: Civil War to Uncivil Peace [Christine J. Wade] 23. Guatemala: Breaking Free from the Past? [Michael E. Allison] 24. Honduras: Democracy in Peril [J. Mark Ruhl] 25. Panama: Political Culture and the Struggle to Build Democracy [Orlando J. Perez] 26. The Dominican Republic: Democracy, Still a Work in Progress [Lilian Bobea] 27. Haiti: Searching for Democratic Governance [Georges A. Fauriol]

About the Author

Harvey F. Kline is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Alabama. He is the author of numerous books including Colombia: Democracy Under Assault, A Concise Introduction to Latin American Politics and Development, Historical Dictionary of Colombia, Showing Teeth to the Dragons, and Chronicle of a Failure Foretold, among others.Christine J. Wade is Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Washington College. She is the author of Captured Peace: Elites and Peacebuilding in El Salvador and co-author of Understanding Central America and Nicaragua: Emerging from the Shadow of the Eagle.Howard J. Wiarda was Dean Rusk Professor of International Relations at the University of Georgia and senior associate in residence at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC. He was the author or editor of numerous books, including A Concise Introduction to Latin American Politics and Development.

Reviews

"Gathered from writers who are experts in regions throughout Latin America, the chapters vividly highlight important historical events as well as current political challenges facing these nations. This book remains a staple in the field of Latin American politics. Highly recommended."―Choice"This is the outstanding textbook in comparative Latin American politics."―Jorge I. Dominguez, Harvard"This book contains comprehensive chapters by recognized experts on the twenty most important Latin American countries. Taken together, these chapters provide the best available introduction to Latin American politics and government for undergraduate students."―Richard Eric Hartwig, Texas A&M-Kingsville"This edited work offers a comprehensive analysis of the multicultural complexities of the myriad of issues confronting Latin America today ... For students of Latin American politics and inter-American relations, Wiarda and Kline's text is informative and intellectually challenging and is worth buying and careful reading."―ID: International Dialogue, A Multidisciplinary Journal of World Affairs