Latin American Politics & Development

For thirty years Latin American Politics and Development has kept instructors and students abreast of current affairs in Latin America. Now in its seventh edition, this definitive text has been updated throughout and features contributions from experts in the field, including three entirely new chapters on Bolivia, Ecuador, and Mexico. Other new material addresses the economic crisis in Argentina; Brazil’s continued economic and political progress; Chile’s successful—if still tentative—combination of democracy, economic growth, and social equity; the continued challenge to Colombia’s political system posed by guerillas, drug traffickers, and paramilitaries; Venezuela’s continued flight from liberal democracy under Hugo Chavez; and Mexico’s ongoing “civil war” as criminal organizations fight each other and the Mexican state to run drug trafficking and other criminal operations. In addition to detailed country-by-country chapters, Latin American Politics and Development provides a comprehensive regional overview. Five foundational chapters by the editors cover the context of Latin American politics, the pattern of historical development, interest groups and political parties, government machinery, the role of the state and public policy, and the struggle for democracy.

“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

The only text organized on a country-by-country basis that represents all Latin American countries, Latin American Politics and Development offers instructors maximum flexibility in organizing courses.

This excellent time-tested text continues to be a lucid--and the best--single volume introduction to the complexities of Latin American politics. (G. Pope Atkins, United States Naval Academy)

With comprehensive chapters by recognized experts, this classic book—now updated throughout—provides an authoritative yet accessible introduction to Latin American government and political development.

Howard J. Wiarda is Dean Rusk Professor of International Relations and head of the Department of International Affairs at the University of Georgia, and Senior Scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. He is la member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the author or editor of numerous Westview books including An Introduction to Latin American Politics and Development (with Harvey Kline) and Civil Society: The American Model and Third World Development. Harvey Kline is professor of Political Science at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. He is a member of the Inter-American Dialogue and the author of Colombia: Democracy under Assault, Second Edition (1995, Westview), An Introduction to Latin American Politics and Development, Second Edition (with Howard J. Wiarda), and Latin American Politics and Development, Sixth Edition (with Howard J. Wiarda).