Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion, and Change

Extensively revised and updated, Understanding Central America: Global Forces, Rebellion and Regime Change explains how domestic and global political and economic forces shaped rebellion and regime change in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras from the 1970s. Providing the authoritative, comprehensive coverage students of Latin America, political science, and international relations require, the authors explore the origins and development of the region's political conflicts and efforts to resolve them. Through this comprehensive textbook, students can explore Central America's political and economic development from the early 1800s onward, providing a background for understanding rebellion and regime changes in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. This revised edition brings the Central American story up-to-date, with special emphasis on globalization, public opinion, progress toward democratic consolidation, and U.S. pressures on political and economic processes. The authors offer a thorough analysis of how global forces act on these small nations. A useful introduction to the region, organized to facilitate classroom discussion, and a model for how to convey the complexities of the region in language students will comprehend, Understanding Central America stands out as must-have resource.

Understanding Central America continues to stand as a highly successful textbook dedicated to Latin America and the issues that keep it topical. With new revisions and corrections, this 4th edition will continue to educate and involve its readers in the issues concerning contemporary Central America.