Description
Book SynopsisDemocracy is deep peril in Latin America, as is U.S. policy in the region. Public support for democracy has declined dramatically since the impressive ''third wave'' transitions to democracy in the 1980s and 1990s, and public opinion surveys show almost half of Latin Americans prefer ''strong government,'' often a euphemism for authoritarianism. Meanwhile, U.S. policy toward Latin America has returned to far-from-benign neglect. The democratic gains of the last two decades are under threat, neither in Latin America nor in the United States do policymakers seem to have any viable alternatives or solutions to the present malaise. This balanced, clear study explores why democracy in Latin America is so troubled, and why U.S. policy in the area so often goes astray. Howard Wiarda argues that because Latin America was built on a different basis than the United States and has a different history, political culture, and social foundation, it cannot possibly imitate the U.S. model of democrac
Trade ReviewRecommended. -- C. H. Blake, James Madison University * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction: Democracy Ascendant? Part 2 Part I: Overviews and Interpretations Chapter 3 Latin America in Comparative Perspective Chapter 4 Three Paradigms for Interpreting Latin America Chapter 5 Civil Society in Latin America Chapter 6 Human Rights in Latin America Part 7 Part II: Country and Regional Cases Chapter 8 The Dilemmas of Democracy in the Dominican Republic: A Paradigm for All of Latin America? Chapter 9 Venezuela and Argentina: Development and Disintegration Chapter 10 Cuba and Marxism-Leninism Chapter 11 Democracy and U.S. Policy in the Caribbean Basin Part 12 Part III: Policy Implications Chapter 13 Reassessing U.S. Policy in Latin America Chapter 14 Neoliberalism and Its Problems Chapter 15 Transitions to Democracy—or Something Less Than That? Chapter 16 Conclusion: Democracy and Its Uncertain Future Chapter 17 Suggested Readings
