Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion, and Change
The fifth edition of Understanding Central America explains how domestic and global political and economic forces have shaped rebellion and regime change in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. John A. Booth, Christine J. Wade, and Thomas W. Walker explore the origins and development of the region’s political conflicts and its efforts to resolve them. Covering the region’s political and economic development from the early 1800s onward, the authors provide a background...
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Authoritative, comprehensive coverage of Central America’s political evolution, including revolution, rebellion, and regime change as well as democratic consolidation.
List of Tables and Illustrations ixPreface to the Fifth Edition xiAcknowledgments xiiiList of Acronyms xv1 Crisis and Transformation 12 Global Forces and System Change in Central America 15Poverty and Its Causes 17Regime Change in Central America 28Discussion 423 The Common History 47Conquest to 1838 471838 to the Present 514 Costa Rica 61Historical Background 62Weathering Global Forces 65The Economic Development Model Transformed 69Changes in Politics and Parties 72Contemporary Costa Rican Politics 75Conclusions 775 Nicaragua 81Historical Background 81Global Forces and Insurrection 84The Revolution 88Replacing the Revolution 97Contemporary Nicaraguan Politics 102Conclusions 1076 El Salvador 111Historical Background 111Global Forces and Insurrection 114Government and Politics Since the Peace Accord 126Conclusions 1337 Guatemala 135Historical Background 135Global Forces and Conflict 139The Civilian Transitional Regime and the Civil War 144The Peace Accords and Contemporary Guatemalan Politics 148Conclusions 1568 Honduras 159Historical Background 159Weathering Global Forces 163Contemporary Honduran Politics 171Conclusions 1779 Political Participation, Political Attitudes, and Democracy 181Citizen Participation 182Citizen Attitudes 191Factors Shaping Attitudes and Participation 198Conclusions 20510 Power, Democracy, and US Policy in Central America 211The Problem of Power 212Democracy 213Mobilization 215The Roots of US Policy in Central America 219Communism in Central America 222Demobilization in Central America 225US Policy in thePost-Cold War Period 233Conclusions 23911 Reflections and Projections 243Relections: Repression, Mobilization, and Democratic Transition 243Projections: Prospects for Democratic Consolidation 248Conclusions 263Appendix 267Notes 279About the Authors 325Index 327
