The Politics of Latin American Development

In this introduction to Latin American politics, Professor Wynia probes behind historical events and reveals the fundamental economic and political dynamics shaping events and driving policy. Using the paradigm of politics as a game, domestic and foreign players are identified and the rules that govern their interaction are described. This analytical framework is then used in detailed analyses of the strategies of development that have dominated Latin American politics. Chapters are devoted to democratic reform, military authoritarianism, and revolutionary politics, with detailed examples from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela. In this third edition, Wynia analyses the rise of democratic governance as well as the challenges presented by unprecedented foreign debts. Special attention has been given to the restoration of constitutional democracy in Argentina and Brazil, and a systematic comparison is developed of the movements in those countries, first into authoritarianism and then into democracy.