Contemporary Latin America presents the epochal political, economic, social, and cultural changes in Latin America over the last 40 years and comprehensively examines their impact on life in the region, and beyond.

Provides a fresh approach and a new interpretation of the seismic changes of the last 40 years in Latin AmericaIntroduces major themes from a humanistic and universal perspective, putting each subject in a context that readers can understand and relate toFocuses on Ibero-America'--Brazil and the eighteen countries that were formerly Spanish possessions- while offering valuable comparative views of the non-Iberian areas of the CaribbeanEmphasizes the global, regional and national dimensions of the region's recent past

Robert H. Holden teaches Latin American history at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He is the author of, among others,Armies without Nations: Public Violence and State Formation in Central America, 18211960 (2004) and co-editor ofLatin America and the United States: A Documentary History (with Eric Zolov, 2010), and has written numerous scholarly articles.

Rina Villars is the author of three books in Spanish on the history and political culture of Central America, and of scholarly articles on Spanish linguistics and women.

List of Maps, Figures and Tables vii

Series Editors Preface viii

Acknowledgments x

Part I Latin America in a World Setting 1

Introduction 3

1 What Is Latin America? 5

2 Beliefs 20

Part II Government 41

Introduction 43

3 The Demise of Social Revolution 48

4 The Armed Forces Bow to Civilian Rule 67

5 The Turning toward Democracy 97

6 Religion, Politics and the State 113

7 Lawless Violence, Impunity and the Democratic Transition 127

Part III Wealth 143

Introduction 145

8 The Challenge of Sustained Growth 148

9 Poor Countries, Rich Countries 161

10 Agonies of Underdevelopment 185

Part IV Culture 207

Introduction 209

11 Education 211

12 Research and Communications 225

13 Literature and the Visual Arts 249

14 Cinema and Sports 263

Part V Communities 275

Introduction 277

15 The Family, Women and Sexuality 281

16 Indigenous Peoples and Their Movements 304

17 Toward a Latin American Community of Nations? 322

Sources Consulted 332

Index 342