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

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Vanden, Harry E.

Contributor:

Prevost, Gary.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Latin America--Politics and government.

Latin America.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xxi, 633 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

Edition:

Fourth edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Oxford University Press, [2012]

Summary:

Now in its fourth edition, Politics of Latin America explores both the evolution and the current state of the political scene in Latin America. Distinguishing itself from more traditional works on the subject, this unique 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. FEATURES OF THE FOURTH EDITION: * Focuses on contemporary developments in the region, especially the election and reelection (from 2002 on) of several progressive governments that provide an alternative to the neoliberal policies of the 1990s * Incorporates recent political events (from 2007-2010), including the presidential and legislative elections in Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, El Salvador, and Paraguay * Analyzes critical new legislative developments, including the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina in 2010 * Updates all tables and charts with the latest census and economic data * Includes an entirely new chapter (11) on the relationship between the United States and Latin America, which offers an in-depth look at Obama's policies toward the region and places his administration in the context of long-standing themes in this complex relationship * Restructures, expands, and adds statistical tables to the chapter on democracy and authoritarianism

Contents:

1. An introduction to twenty-first century Latin America

2. Early history

3. Democracy, dictators, and Tío Sam: a historical overview from independence to the present day

4. The other Americans

5. Society, family, and gender

6. Religion in Latin America

7. The political economy of Latin America

8. Democracy and authoritarianism: Latin American political culture

9. Politics, power, institutions, and actors

10. Struggling for change: revolution, social and political movements in Latin America

11. U.S.-Latin American relations

12. Guatemala / Susanne Jonas

13. Mexico / Nora Hamilton

14. Cuba / Gary Prevost

15. Brazil / Wilber Albert Chaffee

16. Argentina / Aldo C. Vacs

17. Chile / Eduardo Silva

18. Venezuela / Daniel Hellinger

19. Colombia / John C. Dugas

20. Nicaragua / Gary Prevost and Harry E. Vanden

21. Bolivia / Waltraud Q. Morales

Appendix 1: Presidential elections

Appendix 2: Recent Legislative elections.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780199797141

0199797145

OCLC:

708763144