"Latin America constitutes a region well-endowed with sovereign nations, cultural differences, and varying states of development and political stability. The end of the cold war and the de­cline of revolutionary movements and regimes has cast political perceptions of the region in a new light even as it has wrought momentous changes in the individual countries themselves. Latin American Political Yearbook: 1997 provides a comprehensive overview, analysis, and summary of the major political and economic trends and events in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean both for their significance within special coun­tries, the entire region, and relations with the world at large.Elections and the status of political forces in Latin America are the focus of part 1. It provides an up-to-date, realistic definition of today's political ""Left"" and describes the political situ­ations in the Central American, MERCOSUR, Andean, and Caribbean nations. Moreover, special consider­ation is given to the case of Nicara­gua. In part 2 the politico-economic backgrounds of such representative Latin American nations as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Honduras, Paraguay, and Venezuela are updated to demonstrate that corruption and collectivism have been responsible for most, if not all of the region's economic woes. The next two parts are con­cerned with the Hemispheric left (HL) and the Hemispheric Left Support, re­spectively, the former dealing with the loose association of Latin American Marxist and Marxist-Leninist organi­zations. It begins with an in-depth look at its enigmatic chief, Fidel Castro, and then discusses HL umbrella organizations; Colombian, Mexican, and Cen­tral American terrorist groups; HL narcoterrorism; and the special case of Peru. The book concludes with a look at Latin American international organizations Including trade and tariff associations, technical groupings, re­gional associations, and hemisphere-wide "

In the fourth volume of this annual series, Robert G. Breene provides a comprehensive overview, analysis, and summary of the major political and economic trends and events in Central America, MERCOSUR, Andean and Caribbean nations, and Mexico. Analyzing these developments within the individual nations, their respective regions, and the world at large, the yearbook offers a timely look at the relevant background and information necessary to understand the changing nature of politics in Latin America today. The volume's opening two chapters continue the coverage of the earlier volumes, presenting details of various Latin American elections with relevant background information. The remaining five chapters cover various aspects of the development of regional history during the year 2001. Chapter 3 on U.S. diplomacy examines the immediate impact of President Clinton's various Latin American trips and initiatives. The Hemispheric Left and support for the Hemispheric Left are treated in general terms in chapter 4, while the next three chapters examine specific nations, Colombia (chapter 5), Venezuela (chapter 6), and Cuba (chapter 7) where these forces were of particular importance during the year. The material presented on Cuba is of particular interest considering the September 11, 2001 outrage; although, as the editor notes, it remains to be seen if the measures adopted at Guantanamo did keep Castro from dabbling in the aftermath. The final chapter continues the series' discussion of Latin American international organizations such as the Grupo de Rio and the Organization of American States. The continuity of the information presented in these volumes is one of their valuable assets as is the examination of the Disinformation Operation (DO) of the Hemispheric Left. Disinformation examples are many, ranging from the Harbury DO in Guatemala through Ruz Castro's Foro Soo Paolo and the totally misrepresented Zapatista National Liberation Army to the Great Gringo DO continues to operate with impunity. This is a reference volume with a point of view. It is brimming with facts and provides information not readily available through the American media. Compact, yet comprehensive, it is essential reading for political scientists, Latin American area specialists, and historians.

In the sixth volume of this annual series, Robert G. Breene provides a comprehensive overview, analysis, and summary of the political and economic trends and events in Central America, MERCOSUR, the Andean and Caribbean nations, and Mexico. Analyzing these developments within the individual nations, their respective regions, and the world at large, this yearbook offers a timely look at the relevant background and information necessary to understand the changing nature of politics in Latin America today.A significant development has been the growing nexus of Marxist-Leninist and Muslim terrorism. Before the turn of the new century, portents of this development were discernable in the long terrorist war conducted against the democratic West by those followers of Lenin, Stalin, and their successors. This has now been transformed into a "crusade" against non-Muslim societies. The materials included here attest to the fact that the hemispheric left and Cuba were involved in terror long before it suddenly materialized in the United States. As this volume records, Castro was in Teheran in May 2001 where he pledged that "the peoples and governments of Iran and Cuba can bring the U.S. to its knees." Four months later, terrorists of the Al-Qaeda network destroyed the World Trade Center and struck the Pentagon. In replying to this outrage, the Bush administration identified an Axis of Evil, which did not include either the Cuban or Chinese Communist regimes, two original seats of international terror. As this volume demonstrates, however, whether neatly includable in the "axis" or otherwise, Castro and his political allies u Hugo Rafael Chbvez Fryas of Venezuela, Lula da Silva of Brazil, and others u are closely associated with at least one avowed member state of the Axis.In addition to its analysis of these and other new developments, the Yearbook continues its invaluable coverage of election results throughout Latin America. Brimming with information not readily available through the American media, this series is essential reading for political scientists, journalists, Latin America area specialists, and historians.Robert G. Breene, Jr. has been a fighter pilot, a newspaper correspondent in Central America, a professor of physics, and the owner and operator of a 600-head cattle ranch in Nevada. He is currently head of the Latin American News Syndicate in San Antonio, Texas.

Latin America constitutes a region well-endowed with sovereign nations, cultural differences, and varying states of development and political stability. The end of the cold war and the de­cline of revolutionary movements and regimes has cast political perceptions of the region in a new light even as it has wrought momentous changes in the individual countries themselves. Latin American Political Yearbook: 1997 provides a comprehensive overview, analysis, and summary of the major political and economic trends and events in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean both for their significance within special coun­tries, the entire region, and relations with the world at large. Elections and the status of political forces in Latin America are the focus of part 1. It provides an up-to-date, realistic definition of today's political "Left" and describes the political situ­ations in the Central American, MERCOSUR, Andean, and Caribbean nations. Moreover, special consider­ation is given to the case of Nicara­gua. In part 2 the politico-economic backgrounds of such representative Latin American nations as Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Honduras, Paraguay, and Venezuela are updated to demonstrate that corruption and collectivism have been responsible for most, if not all of the region's economic woes. The next two parts are con­cerned with the Hemispheric left (HL) and the Hemispheric Left Support, re­spectively, the former dealing with the loose association of Latin American Marxist and Marxist-Leninist organi­zations. It begins with an in-depth look at its enigmatic chief, Fidel Castro, and then discusses HL umbrella organizations; Colombian, Mexican, and Cen­tral American terrorist groups; HL narcoterrorism; and the special case of Peru. The book concludes with a look at Latin American international organizations Including trade and tariff associations, technical groupings, re­gional associations, and hemisphere-wide associations such as the Cumbre Iberoamerica, the Grupo de Rio, and the Organization of American States. The year 1996 contained a number of important contests throughout the region and Latin American Political Yearbook provides a timely look at rel­evant background Information neces­sary to an understanding of the statustlons; Colombian, Mexican, and Cen­tral American terrorist groups; HL narcoterrorism; and the special case of Peru. The book concludes with a look at Latin American international organizations Including trade and tariff associations, technical groupings, re­gional associations, and hemisphere-wide associations such as the Cumbre Iberoamerica, the Grupo de Rio, and the Organization of American States. The year 1996 contained a number of important contests throughout the region and Latin American Political Yearbook provides a timely look at rel­evant background Information neces­sary to an understanding of the status of political forces in Latin America to­day. Brimming with facts, this com­pact yet comprehensive volume Is essential reading for political scien­tists, Latin American area specialists, and historians.

This Dictionary provides an impartial and valuable background to the Latin American region, vital for anyone interested in the current affairs, recent history and economy of this vast area. Entries provide definitions of terms, concepts, names and organizations key to discussions of Central and South America. Covering some 48 countries and territories, this volume offers a unique insight to the political and economic dimensions of this diverse region.

This work covers the present and past political development of Puerto Rico and the 20 independent republics of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Each chapter includes a Country Chart listing relevant economic, political, and social data.