This volume investigates the structural, social, and political impediments that hinder modernization and systemic reform across Latin American nations. Claudio Veliz, a prominent sociologist and historian, compiles a series of essays from various experts to analyze why traditional power structures and institutional inertia frequently stall progress. The work argues that the region's unique historical development creates a specific set of constraints that cannot be easily bypassed by imported economic or political models.

Scholars frequently cite this collection as a foundational text for understanding the sociological barriers to development in the region. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a baseline knowledge of Latin American political history.