Extensively revised and updated, Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion and Regime Change explains how domestic and global political and economic forces shaped rebellion and regime change in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras from the 1970s. Providing the authoritative, comprehensive coverage students of Latin America, political science, and international relations require, John A. Booth, Christine J. Wade, and Thomas W. Walker explore the origins and development of the region’s political conflicts and efforts to resolve them. Through this comprehensive textbook, students can explore Central America’s political and economic development from the early 1800s onward, providing a background for understanding rebellion and regime changes in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. This revised edition brings the Central American story up-to-date, with special emphasis on globalization, public opinion, progress toward democratic consolidation, and U.S. pressures on political and economic processes. The authors offer a thorough analysis of how global forces act on these small nations. A useful introduction to the region, organized to facilitate classroom discussion, and a model for how to convey the complexities of the region in language students will comprehend, Understanding Central America stands out as must-have resource.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Written with detail, sophistication, and great clarity, and key concepts are precisely explained. It is thus both an informed read for scholars and very accessible to students. Highly recommended.” —Choice
“Prior editions of Understanding Central America had become the classic work in the field, both in the classroom and as an academic reference. This new edition is a major upgrade, not only involving updating of events, but rethinking the theoretical issues that are at the heart of any understanding of the region. … Without question, a ‘must read’ for anyone interested in this complex and volatile area of the world.” —Mitchell A. Seligson, Vanderbilt University
“Understanding Central America remains the most comprehensive and indispensable textbook for courses on Central American politics. It offers a classic interpretation of the roots of civil wars and U.S. interventions in late twentieth-century Central America. This new edition has been reorganized and updated to address the region’s post-war issues of the twenty-first century, incorporating new scholarship relevant for analysis over the long-run.” —Susanne Jonas, University of California, Santa Cruz
“This volume is without doubt the best comprehensive examination of Central American politics and society. The book represents a good balance between an intellectually sophisticated analysis and a clear, concise approach readily accessible for undergraduate students.” —Orlando J. Pérez, Central Michigan University; President, Midwest Association for Latin American Studies
Praise for Previous Editions
“This is an excellent volume. If you can only read one book on Central America, make it this one.” —John Peeler, Bucknell University
“An outstanding contribution. … This book is among the very best on the subject in the past decade.” —Choice
“An ideal volume that introduces the complexities of the region.” —Mitchell A. Seligson, University of Pittsburgh
“Clearly written, well organized, and challenging. … Laudably, this book speaks both to those who already know the region well and to those seeking an intelligent introduction.” —E. Bradford Burns, University of California, Los Angeles
“This book is required reading as we move into a new, complex era of U.S.–Central American relations.” —Walter LaFeber, Cornell University
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
“Understanding Central America remains the most comprehensive and indispensable textbook for courses on Central American politics. It offers a classic interpretation of the roots of civil wars and U.S. interventions in late twentieth-century Central America. This new edition has been reorganized and updated to address the region’s post-war issues of the twenty-first century, incorporating new scholarship relevant for analysis over the long-run.” —Susanne Jonas, University of California, Santa Cruz
“This volume is without doubt the best comprehensive examination of Central American politics and society. The book represents a good balance between an intellectually sophisticated analysis and a clear, concise approach readily accessible for undergraduate students.” —Orlando J. Pérez, Central Michigan University; President, Midwest Association for Latin American Studies
Praise for Previous Editions
“This is an excellent volume. If you can only read one book on Central America, make it this one.” —John Peeler, Bucknell University
“An outstanding contribution. … This book is among the very best on the subject in the past decade.” —Choice
“An ideal volume that introduces the complexities of the region.” —Mitchell A. Seligson, University of Pittsburgh
“Clearly written, well organized, and challenging. … Laudably, this book speaks both to those who already know the region well and to those seeking an intelligent introduction.” —E. Bradford Burns, University of California, Los Angeles
“This book is required reading as we move into a new, complex era of U.S.–Central American relations.” —Walter LaFeber, Cornell University
About the Author
John A. Booth is Regents Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas. Christine J. Wade is Assistant Professor of Political Science and International studies at Washington College. Thomas W. Walker is professor of political science and Director of the Latin American Studies Program at Ohio University. He is the author of Nicaragua: Living in the Shadow of the Eagle, Fourth Edition (2003, Westview).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A story of stark contrasts, with lots to ponder,
By Brian Griffith (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion, and Change (Paperback)
This is a competent overview of political and economic change in five Central American states: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. The book omits Belize and Panama as belonging to different social worlds, and avoids delving into cultural history.I think the heart of the book is the five chapters on the history of each nation, which show a remarkable diversity of responses to somewhat similar challenges. The authors show how each nation handled its tensions of social inequality inherited from colonial conquest, of local economic elites facing powerful foreign interests, or of competition between military and civilian power. It's fascinating to see how Costa Rica went through a brief civil war in the 1940s, and then abolished its armed forces. Other states militarized their governments to the point open war on political opponents. Where Honduras avoided war and prosecuted army officers for killing civilians, the armies of Guatemala and El Salvador killed a total of near 300,000 civilians. The authors document the role of U.S. foreign policy in detail. They measure the outcomes of America's enormous investment in arming former-colonial oligarchs against the majority of Indian and mixed-race people. The costs of this policy in lives, dollars, human relations was stupefying. Its defense of cleptocrats against workers and tax payers seems amazing in light of recent U.S. economic history. This fourth edition of the study follows events up to 2004. It explores developments in the aftermath of civil wars, as decommissioned combatants often formed criminal gangs, and free trade treaties forced reductions in health, education, and welfare spending. With the help of surveys, studies, and charts, it ponders the prospects non-violent problem-solving, as unemployment rises ominously.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY GOOD OVERVIEW OF CENTRAL AMERICA-ONE OF THE BEST!,
By leebo "World Affairs Junkie" (dallas, tx) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion, and Change (Paperback)
Being an extremely volatile region, Central America is slowly developing into a more peaceful, safe region. This book is highly detailed and researched, and a great general overview of the social, political, and cultural issues which affect Central American countries. I have cited the book several times in my research. I've been to most of Central America as well, the authors capture the essence well. Good for a general read, or for use in academia...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A 'must' for any college-level library,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion, and Change (Paperback)
The 5th updated edition of Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion and Change represents a major upgrade, updating events and even rethinking the basic theoretical issues at the heart of any key understanding of the region as a whole. As such this remains a powerful textbook on Central American politics, and a 'must' for any college-level library.
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