Customer Reviews

Latin American Politics and Development

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This book is simply the best compilation of political profiles of Latin American countries. It is NOT guided by Wiarda's philosophy, as one would infer from a posted comment here. This collection is written by several authors, leading specialists for each individual country. The array could not be more eclectic. I had the privilege of being both a student of Wiarda's and another contributor in this collection. And I can tell you, unequivocally, that their perspectives on South American politics are quite different. One being more of a pessimist (Wiarda) insofar the historical, immutable traditions that have entrenched itself in Latin America and the other being an optimist, who has great faith in low politics, the transformation at the grass-roots level (informal politics) and who spends much time abroad doing just that virtually every year. You simply cannot put this textbook in the same class as Hunt (who indeed works one major theme throughout his work) or with other authors who have produced far better scholarship than Hunt AND who approach US-Latin American foreign policy (which incidentally, Wiarda/Kline's book is NOT about foreign policy but intended for comparative politics, so it really should not be compared to Hunt, nevertheless...) such as Schoultz and Carothers. But on the comparative politics note, this book simply surpasses an often-assigned textbook by Skidmore/Smith in both content and style. Look elsewhere in vain; this is the best compilation book you are going to find in the market.

Despite his considerable knowledge on the subject of latin american affairs, one must remember that Mr. Wiarda himself has been involved as a D.C. insider, advising multiple administrations and normally favoring the right-wing, "top-down" style of democracy (read, sub-fascism) that is friendly to U.S. business interests. Consider also how he justifies this approach: while U.S. citizens normally favor a kind of Lockean form of government, by their very culture latin americans are more Rousseau-esque, in that they require a strong Leader to look up to. (Somehow it never occurs to people who are backing fascists that it might be that the Lack of a more open, "lockean" government is what contributes to the instability and insurection that they are trying to crush.) Considering that this is the kind of ideology that has infected U.S. foreign policy towards our southern neighbors for more than one hundred years (see Hunt, "Ideology and US Foreign Policy"), it might actually be a good read, if only to get a better understanding of how such supposedly intelligent and well-meaning people can make and justify such terrible decisions; however, if you want the truth about latin america, look else-where.

Wiarda and Kline have done an outstanding job of drawing together comprehensive, compact histories of Latin American countries. Moreover, in their introduction they have encapsulated and explained most of the historical forces that still affect and shape Latin America up to the present day. This book is for anyone, whether casual reader or serious student, who wants to understand Latin America as a whole, or any country in Latin America in particular.

If you like nonfiction and have any interest in the Southern Hemisphere, this read gives you a broad as well as deep viewpoint of Central and South American political isssues. I asked for the books used by NYU School of Global Affairs, and this is a required title. Living in South America, it has been a valuable and compelling read.