Politics of Latin America : the power game / Harry E. Vanden, Gary Prevost.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: -- *=New to this Edition -- Maps and Frequently Cited Acronyms -- Preface -- Introduction: Notes on Studying Politics in Latin America -- 1. An Introduction to Twenty-First Century Latin America -- Geography -- Once There Were Rain Forests -- The People -- The Land -- The Cities Explode: Urbanization -- 2. Early History -- People in the Americas before the Conquest -- The Conquest -- How Could They Do It? -- Early Colony -- Production, Trade, and Extraction of Riches -- The Church -- Colonial State Organization -- Governmental Organization -- The Bourbon Reforms -- 3. Democracy and Dictators: A Historical Overview from Independence to the Present Day -- Independence -- Early Drive for Independence in Hispanic America -- Brazilian Independence -- Early Years of Independence -- The Aftermath of Independence and the Monroe Doctrine -- 1850-1880 -- 1880-1910 -- Post-1910 -- The Cold War and Change -- 4. The Other Americans -- European Justification -- The Role of Sugar and Slavery -- Resistance to Slavery -- Concept of Race -- Contemporary Struggle of the Indigenous People -- Conclusion -- 5. Society, Family, and Gender -- Family and Gender Roles -- Class, Gender, Race, and Mobility -- Homosexuality and Transgenderism -- 6. Religion in Latin America -- Indigenous Religious Practice -- Colonial Catholic Church -- The Church in Modern Latin America -- A New Political Role -- Impact of Liberation Theology -- Protestantism and Pentecostalism -- African-Inspired Religions -- Judaism -- Conclusion -- 7. The Political Economy of Latin America -- On Economics and Political Economy -- The Latin American Economy -- Agrarian Production -- Foreign Investment and Enclave Production -- Dependency and Underdevelopment -- Raul Prebisch and the ECLA -- Dependency Theory -- Import Substitution Industrialization -- Export Orientation -- Increasing Foreign Debt and the Debt Crisis -- Structural Adjustment and the Move to Neoliberalism -- Privatization and Neoliberalism -- Regional Integration, NAFTA, and the Globalization Process -- Economic Legacy -- Twenty-First-Century Prospects -- 8. Democracy and Authoritarianism: Latin American Political Culture -- Authoritarian Legacy and Weak Democratic Tradition -- Democratization -- Conclusion -- 9. Politics, Power, Institutions, and Actors -- Constitutions -- Institutions -- Political Actors -- Rural Poor -- Conclusion -- 10. Struggling for Change: Revolution, Social and Political Movements in Latin America -- Cuba -- Nicaragua -- El Salvador -- Guatemala -- Colombia -- Peru -- Argentine Manifestation -- Chiapas: Regional Victory -- Ecuador -- New Social Movements and New Politics -- * Bolivia -- Conclusion -- 11. U.S.-Latin American Relations -- Territorial Expansion: Confrontation with Mexico -- Dreams of Cuba -- Economic Transformation -- Gunboat Diplomacy, the Big Stick, and Dollar Diplomacy -- Democracy and World War II -- The Rio Treaty and the Organization of American States -- Guatemalan Case -- Alliance for Progress -- National Security Doctrine -- September 11 Coup in Chile -- Counterinsurgency -- Cold War in Central America -- Latin America and the Post-Cold War World -- Latin American Initiatives -- Prospects for the Future -- North America: Mexico -- 12. Mexico, Nora Hamilton -- Introduction -- Historical Trajectory -- Economic Development and the "Perfect Dictatorship": 1940-1982 -- Economic Liberalization and Political Transition: 1982-2000 -- Toward an Uncertain Future: 2000-2010 -- South America: Southern Cone/The ABC Powers -- 13. Argentina, Aldo C. Vacs -- Political Evolution -- Economic Crisis, Political Upheaval, and the Return of Populism -- Politics and Power -- Looking Forward: Argentina's Political Prospects -- 14. Brazil, Wilber Albert Chaffee -- Introduction -- A Brief Political History -- Democratic Interlude -- Military Rule -- The "New Republic" -- Political Economy -- Foreign Policy -- Geography of Inequality -- A Culture of Discrimination -- The Political System -- The President -- The Legislature -- The Courts -- Political Parties -- Interest Groups -- The Amazon -- Brazil Today -- 15. Chile, Eduardo Silva -- Introduction -- Political Economy -- Political History -- Military Government -- Power and Politics -- Chilean Government Structures -- Interest Groups -- Conclusion -- South America: Andean Countries -- 16. Colombia, John C. Dugas -- Economic and Social Context -- Political History -- The Colombian Political Regime: Constitutional Structure and Actual Practice -- 17. Venezuela, Daniel Hellinger -- Geography and People -- Race and Gender -- Venezuela's History and Its Uses Today -- Oil Changes Everything -- The Punto Fijo Regime and the Rise and Fall of "Partyarchy" -- From Decay to Collapse of the Punto Fijo System -- Survival Politics -- Venezuela's "Bolivarian" Constitution and Institutional Framework -- Political Actors in Bolivarian Venezuela -- Economic and Development Strategies in Bolivarian Venezuela -- 18. Bolivia, Waltraud Q. Morales -- Introduction -- Geopolitical Overview -- Early History -- Colonial Rule (1532-1809) -- Independence and Caudillo Rule (1809 1879) -- The War of the Pacific (1879-1884) -- Republican Government (1880 1932) -- The Chaco War and the Coming of Revolution (1932-1951) -- From Revolution to Military Dictatorship (1952-1982) -- Transition to Democratic Rule -- Indigenous Resurgence and Populist Democracy -- * Refounding Bolivia -- * What's Ahead for Morales and Bolivia -- Cuba and the Caribbean -- 19. Cuba, Gary Prevost -- Introduction -- History -- Revolution -- Revolution in Power -- Decade of the 1970s: Economic Changes -- Political Process -- International Relations -- Cuban Response to the Collapse of the Soviet Union -- * U.S.-Cuban Relations -- 20. Guatemala, Susanne Jonas -- Precolonial, Colonial, and Neocolonial History -- The Revolution of 1944-1954 and the 1954 CIA Intervention -- Aftermath: Chronic Crisis -- Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the 1970s-1980s -- Transition to Restricted Civilian Rule -- Social Crisis and Reemergence of Social Movements -- Guatemala's Peace Process (1990-1996) -- 21. Nicaragua, Gary Prevost and Harry E. Vanden -- The Modern Era -- Carlos Fonseca and the Roots of the FSLN -- Turning Point for Revolution -- The FSLN in Power -- Consolidating Political Institutions -- The 1990 Election and After -- The 1996 Elections and the Evolving Party System -- Neoliberalism and the Economy -- Social Conditions -- Nicaraguan Government Structures -- Interest Groups -- Liberal Parties -- Conclusion -- Appendix 1. Presidential Elections -- Appendix 2. Recent Legislative Elections -- Authors and Contributors -- Index.

"Politics of Latin America, Fifth Edition explores both the evolution and the current state of the political scene in Latin America. This text demonstrates a nuanced sensitivity to the use and abuse of power and the importance of social conditions, gender, race, globalization, and political economy throughout Latin America. The first part of the text is composed of thematic chapters that outline the region's geographic setting, history, economics, society, gender, race, and religion, setting the stage for a more detailed analysis of the politics, democratization, political culture, political movements, and revolution in Latin America. The second part of the book consists of carefully constructed case studies of ten representative Latin American nations: Guatemala, Mexico, Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Bolivia. Each case study traces the historical and political development of key actors and institutions, analyzing contemporary power configurations. "-- Provided by publisher.