This book accessibly traces the long, erratic, and incomplete path of Latin Americas political and socioeconomic democratization over the past two centuries. Examining both proponents and opponents of democracy, it concludes that while imperfect, democracy has made significant progress. An essential text for Latin American politics and history.
Acknowledgments
ix
Acronyms
xi
Introduction
xv
Chapter 1 From Caudillos to Oligarchs, 1820s-1910s
1
(20)
Chapter 2 Early Democratization, 1900-1930
21
(22)
Chapter 3 Advances and Setbacks for Democracy, 1930-1948
43
(22)
Chapter 4 Democracy in the Shadow of the Cold War, 1948-1958
65
(20)
Chapter 5 The Cuban Revolution and Democracy, 1959-1970
85
(20)
Chapter 6 Three Truncated Revolutions, 1968-1990
105
(18)
Chapter 7 The Eclipse of Democracy, 1969-1990
123
(22)
Chapter 8 Democratic Progress and Regression, 1978-2000
145
(18)
Chapter 9 Democracy in the New Millennium, 2000-Present
163
(28)
Final Observations
191
(4)
Select Bibliography: Books in English
195
(16)
Index
211
Thomas C. Wright is distinguished professor emeritus at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
