Revolution!: South America and the Rise of the New Left (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "One of the most spectacular industrial fires in the history of the Venezuelan oil industry occurred at the village of La Rosa situated on the..." (more)
Key Phrases: piquetero movement, energy integration, United States, South America, Villa del Cine (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the past five years, Latin America's new cadre of leftist leaders have been struggling to shake off the legacies of faltering economies and military dictatorships that have long haunted the region. Kozloff (Hugo Chavez: Oil, Politics, and the Challenge to the U.S.) offers a series of snapshots of steady transformation, focusing heavily on Venezuela's Chavez and key issues like oil, media and multiculturalism. Compiling current anecdotes and concise historical summaries, Kozloff describes a number of overlapping trends in the region, such as indigenous rights movements and revived labor unions, as well as a widespread desire for economic independence from the United States. Kozloff interprets these similarities as proof of increasing regional integration, but fails to provide adequate hard evidence. If anything, he succeeds in showing how the countries he writes about have moved away from cookie-cutter solutions and are each working to develop equitable societies on their own terms. (Apr.)
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Review

Praise for Revolution!:

"While official Washington and elite media have been mucking about in the Middle East, journalist Nikolas Kozloff has charted his own path amid the terrain-shifting upsurges in 'America's backyard.' He casts a sympathetic but critical eye at the leftward trend in South American politics, the battles over oil and media, the rise of indigenous movements and sometimes erratic populist leaders. If you get your news on Latin America from mainstream media, this wide-ranging book is a needed corrective."--Jeff Cohen, author of Cable News Confidential and founder of the media watch group FAIR

"A much needed antidote to the mainstream media's canting coverage of Latin America. Kozloff is an acute observer of contemporary Latin American politics, and he proves to be an indispensable guide to the ideas, politics, and economics behind the region's yet latest attempt to wrest some wiggle room from Washington, as well as to the possibilities and perils that confront its 'New Left' leaders and activists."--Greg Grandin, author of Empire's Workshop: Latin America, the United States, and the Rise of the New Imperialism

Praise for Hugo Chávez:

"Essential reading for all who want to understand modern global politics."--John Perkins, author of the New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

"[Kozloff] lets us in on his travels, Jack Kerouac-style."--Roger Lowenstein, New York Times

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230600573
• ISBN-13: 978-0230600577
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #397,526 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Revolution" in South America, September 17, 2008

By	Thomas Moore "political anthropologist" (Lima, Peru) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the best book so far on recent political developments in South America. Although concise at 249 pages, it provides answers to the most important questions raised and a fair and objective interpretation of well documented events. Having lived and worked in Ecuador and followed political developments there over the past five years, I can attest to the accuracy of the data presented and the clarity and objectivity of the interpretations. One might not consider these developments "revolutionary", but Kozloff describes them accurately and well.

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important Book on a Timely Subject , April 25, 2008

By	Joyce Kozloff "Joycekoz" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is packed with information about the changing social and political situation in 6 major South American countries. Personal observations and reflections are woven throughout, as well as interviews with a wide range of characters. The sea change in our hemisphere is one of the major events of this time in history, but has been largely ignored or misunderstood by our media. Revolution: South America and the Rise of the New Left is an invaluable contribution to a discussion which has just begun.