Title
Forgotten continent [electronic resource] : the battle for Latin America's soul / Michael Reid.
ISBN
9780300145267 (electronic book)
9780300116168
0300116160
Publication Details
New Haven [Conn.] ; London : Yale University Press, c2007.
Language
English
Description
1 online resource (xv, 384 p., [16] p. of plates) : ill., maps
Call Number
F1414.3 .R35 2007eb
Dewey Decimal Classification
980.03/8
Summary
Latin America has often been condemned to failure. Not as poor as Africa, nor as booming as India and China, it has largely been overlooked. Yet this vast continent, home to half a billion people, the world's largest reserves of arable land, and 8.5 percent of global oil, is transforming its political and economic landscape. This book argues that Latin America's efforts to build fairer and more prosperous societies make it one of the world's most vigorous laboratories for capitalist democracy. In many countries--including Brazil, Chile and Mexico--democratic leaders are laying the foundations for faster economic growth and more inclusive politics, as well as tackling deep-rooted problems. Failure will increase the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants to the United States and Europe, jeopardize stability in a region rich in strategic commodities, and threaten some of the world's most majestic natural environments.--From publisher description.
Bibliography, etc. Note
Includes bibliographical references (p. [357]-365) and index.
Access Note
Access limited to authorized users.
The forgotten continent
The Latin American conundrum
The seed of democracy in the land of the caudillo
Cold War and revolution : the United States and the left reject democracy
Failed reformers, debt-ridden dictators : the right rejects democracy
The rise and fall of the Washington consensus
The populist challenge
The reformist response
Changing societies
Evolving states
The stubborn resilience of flawed democracies
The loneliness of Latin America.