Understanding Central America

by Booth, John A.; WADE, CHRISTINE J.; Walker, Thomas W.

• ISBN13: 9780813341958
• ISBN10: 0813341957
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-28
• Publisher: Westview Pr

Summary

Extensively revised and updated,Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion and Regime Changeexplains 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 Americastands out as must-have resource.

Author Biography

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).

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Illustrations	xi
Preface to the Fourth Edition	xiii
Acknowledgments	xv
1 Crisis and Transformation	1	(12)
2 Global Forces and System Change in Central America	13	(28)
Poverty and Its Causes,	15	(11)
Regime Change in Central America,	26	(12)
Discussion,	38	(3)
3 The Common History	41	(12)
Conquest to 1838,	41	(4)
1838 to the Present,	45	(8)
4 Costa Rica	53	(16)
Historical Background,	54	(3)
Weathering Global Forces,	57	(4)
The Economic Development Model Transformed,	61	(3)
Changes in Politics and Parties,	64	(2)
Contemporary Costa Rican Politics,	66	(1)
Conclusions,	67	(2)
5 Nicaragua	69	(26)
Historical Background,	69	(3)
Global Forces and Insurrection,	72	(5)
The Revolution,	77	(8)
Replacing the Revolution,	85	(4)
Contemporary Nicaraguan Politics,	89	(3)
Conclusions,	92	(3)
6 El Salvador	95	(20)
Historical Background,	95	(3)
Global Forces and Insurrection,	98	(12)
Government and Politics Since the Peace Accord,	110	(4)
Conclusions,	114	(1)
7 Guatemala	115	(18)
Historical Background,	115	(4)
Global Forces and Conflict,	119	(5)
The Civilian Transitional Regime and the Civil War,	124	(4)
The Peace Accords and Contemporary Guatemalan Politics,	128	(3)
Conclusions,	131	(2)
8 Honduras	133	(16)
Historical Background,	133	(4)
Weathering Global Forces,	137	(8)
Contemporary Honduran Politics,	145	(2)
Conclusions,	147	(2)
9 Political Participation, Political Attitudes, and Democracy	149	(20)
Citizen Participation,	150	(6)
Citizen Attitudes,	156	(5)
Factors Shaping Attitudes and Participation,	161	(3)
Conclusions,	164	(5)
10 Power, Democracy, and U.S. Policy in Central America	169	(28)
The Problem of Power,	170	(1)
Democracy,	171	(2)
Mobilization,	173	(4)
The Roots of U.S. Policy in Central America,	177	(4)
Communism in Central America,	181	(3)
Demobilization in Central America,	184	(7)
U.S. Policy in the Post-Cold War Period,	191	(4)
Conclusions,	195	(2)
11 Reflections and Projections	197	(16)
Reflections: Repression, Mobilization, and Democratic Transition,	197	(4)
Projections: Prospects for Democratic Consolidation,	201	(10)
Conclusions,	211	(2)
Appendix	213	(8)
List of Acronyms	221	(6)
Notes	227	(42)
About the Book and Authors	269	(2)
Index	271