Impunity, human rights, and democracy : Chile and Argentina, 1990-2005 /

Wright (emer., Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas) provides an analysis of the evolution of human rights abuses and their aftermath in Chile and Argentina. The first chapters explain how the Pinochet and Videla regimes came to power and detail the human rights abuses during their reigns. The remainder of the book shows that although the two countries' paths to eventual justice were varied, they include commonalities that eventually led to the erosion of impunity for the perpetrators and ultimately for justice on a scale and depth unprecedented in history. The strength of the work lies in its attention to common conditions as well as unique events that contributed to the erosion of impunity and trials for the perpetrators. However, the analysis could be strengthened by providing a more direct analysis of the relationship between the evolution of human rights and democratic transition, given democracy is noted in the title. Although a part of the discussion, the work could provide a clear accounting of how the human rights process may affect democratic transition or consolidation more generally and whether such effects are comparable to other transitions. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels. --Leda M. Barnett, Our Lady of the Lake University