Part 1: Questions and contexts. 1. Why Latin America? Contrast and paradox -- 2. The colonial foundations. Prelude to conquest ; Colonial Spanish America ; Portuguese America : a different world? ; Independence for Latin America ; The pull of the international economy -- Part 2: Case studies : change over time. 3. Mexico : the taming of a revolution. From colony to nationhood ; The Mexican Revolution ; Politics and policy : patterns of change ; The contemporary scene (1994-present) -- 4. Central America and the Caribbean : within the U.S. orbit. World powers, the United States, and the greater Caribbean ; From colonies to nationhood ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policy : Panama ; Politics and policy : Nicaragua ; Politics and policy : El Salvador ; Politics and policy : Guatemala ; Politics and policy : The Dominican Republic ; Politics and policy : Haiti ; Politics and policy : Puerto Rico -- 5. Cuba : key colony, socialist state. From colony to nationhood ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policy : patterns of change ; The Cuban Revolution ; Framing U.S. policies ; Policy experimentation and regime consolidation ; The contemporary scene (1990-present) -- 6. The Andes : soldiers, oligarchs, and Indians. From colony to nationhood ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policy : Peru ; Politics and policy : Bolivia ; Politics and policy : Ecuador -- 7. Colombia : civility and violence. From colony to nationhood ; Creating political parties ; The loss of Panama ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policies : patterns of change ; The contemporary scene (1990-present) -- 8. Venezuela : the perils of prosperity. From colony to nationhood ; Gunboats and diplomacy ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policy : patterns of change ; The contemporary scene (1998-present) -- 9. Argentina : progress and stalemate. From colony to nationhood ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policy : patterns of change ; The contemporary scene (1983-present) -- 10. Chile : repression and democracy. From colony to nationhood ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policy : patterns of change ; The contemporary scene (1990-present) -- 11. Brazil : the awakening giant. From colony to nationhood ; Overview : economic growth and social change ; Politics and policy : patterns of change ; The contemporary scene (1994-present) -- Part 3: Themes and reflections. 12. Strategies for economic development. Narratives of backwardness ; The liberal era (1880s-1920s) ; Import-substitution industrialization (1930s-1970s) ; The socialist alternative (1950s-1980s) ; Neoliberalism-once dominant, now challenged (1980s-present) -- 13. Dynamics of political transformation. Oligarchic rule and top-down reform (1880s-1920s) ; Populism and dictatorship (1930s-1970s) ; The revolutionary path (1950s-1980s) ; A renewal of democracy (1980s-present) ; Explorations in comparative analysis -- 14. Culture and society. From colonies to nations ; Literature, art, and new ideas in a world economy ; Nationalism, radical politics, and turbulent times ; Latin America culture enters a world market ; Dictatorship, democracy, and new social movements -- Glossary -- Guide to website.
Summary:
This volume presents an interpretive economic, political, and institutional history of contemporary Latin America that uses case studies to discuss the major countries and themes of the region over the past 150 years. The authors begin with a general historical overview, beginning with pre-Columbian times up until the present. After that, it looks at a variety of case studies within the region, including Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Cuba, the Caribbean, and Central America. They present not only the common threads that bind the region but also the distinctions between the countries and explain how that affects each individual country in the region.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.