
This volume explores the question of why nations have failed in Latin America and the implications this has for political developments in the region. The author first looks at economic underdevelopment--the most conspicuous form of failure--and examines in detail the cultural and political factors which have retarded economic growth. He also describes how Latin Americans react to the multitude of economic, social and political problems which beset them and how they evaluate themselves in relation to other peoples. Two subjects of particular interest to American readers are then discussed: Latin American anti-Westernism and revolution. In the second half of the book, Barrett deals with the potential which exists in Latin America for totalitarian political solutions. He studies the situation in Cuba and surveys other Latin American countries where the urge to totalitarianism has clearly revealed itself yet has failed to grow.
This volume investigates the underlying causes of national failure in Latin America and the subsequent political implications for the region's development. Jeffrey W. Barrett utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to analyze economic underdevelopment, examining how cultural and political variables have historically hindered growth. The author evaluates regional self-perception and the specific reactions of Latin American societies to persistent social and political instability.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts classify this work as a focused study on the intersection of political culture and economic stagnation in the mid-20th century. Readers frequently note the author's specific emphasis on the ideological tensions between Western influence and regional revolutionary movements.
Page Count:
357
Publication Date:
1985-01-01
Publisher:
Praeger
ISBN-10:
0030015588
ISBN-13:
9780030015588
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