Includes bibliographical references and index.

PART 1. THE LATIN AMERICAN TRADITION AND PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT / Howard J. Wiarda and Harvey F. Kline: The context of Latin American politics ; The pattern of historical development ; Interest groups and political parties ; Government machinery, the role of the state, and public policy -- PART 2. THE POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina in the twenty-first century / Linda Chen ; Brazil's new way: the BRIC road to progress / Ieda Siqueira Wiarda ; Chile / Paul F. Sigmund ; Colombia: violence, resource wealth, transnational forces, and a vibrant civil society / Vanessa Joan Gray ; Peru: authoritarian traditions, incomplete democracy / David Scott Palmer ; Venezuela: can democracy survive electoral cauadillismo? / David J. Myers ; Uruguay: blanking growth and democracy / Ronald H. McDonald and Martin Weinstein ; Paraguay: challenges in democratic consolidation / Paul C. Sondrol ; Bolivia: from neoliberal democracy to multiethnic plebiscitarian politics / Farbrice Lehoucq ; Ecuador: from crisis to left turn / Catherine / David W. Dent -- PART 3. THE POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF CENTRAL AND MIDDLE AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: Mexico: democratization, development and internal war ; Judith A Gentleman ; Cuba: development, revolution, and decay in Cuba / Juan M. del Aguila ; Costa Rica / Mitchell A. Seligson ; Nicaragua: the politics of frustration / Richard L. Millett -- El Salvador: civil war to uncivil peace / Tommie Sue Montgomery and Christine J. Warde ; Guatemala : democratic by default / Dwight Wilson ; Honduras: democracy in distress / J. Mark Ruhl ; Panama: new politics for a new millennium? / Steve C. Ropp ; The Dominican Republic: a winding road to democracy and development / Esther Shelly Jordan ; Haiti: the search for democratic governance / Georges AC. Fauriol -- PART 4. CONCLUSION: Latin America and the future / Howard J. Wiarda and Harvey F. Kline.