Review by Choice Review
This edited volume updates earlier works on this same subject, and its contributors--focusing on individual Latin American countries--generally see a rebirth of authoritarianism in some countries officially designated as democratic and the persistence of some variety of corporatism in nearly all Latin American countries. Corporatism is defined as "the organization of society by functional groups--military, business, the church, organized labor--rather than on an individualistic basis and, instead of genuine pluralism, autonomy, and freedom of association, the organization, regulation, and control of these groups under state authority." The authors, in essence, view corporatism as an inherent element of Latin American tradition; an often important promoter of stability; and a system which, in moderation, may help restrain powerful market forces. In his conclusion, Wiarda chastens the US for attempting to impose its notion of democracy on Latin America and sees democracy as "in deep trouble in almost all countries of the region" due to the failure of democratically elected governments to solve pressing socioeconomic problems. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. S. L. Rozman Tougaloo College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
