Latin American Politics

In this updated edition, Close continues to make analysis the focus of the book, offering students an important way to study the evolution of politics in Latin America. Organized around political actors and dynamics rather than cases, the book allows students to see patterns across cases and shifts over time. For students of comparative politics, this book is an invaluable tool for understanding Latin American politics. -- Julie Mazzei, Kent State University Close has written an up-to-date and well-rounded textbook that will critically engage students of Latin American politics. Each chapter covers a broad theme that cuts across time and space. Prologues open the chapters with captivating discussions of related topics. Individual cases are discussed within thematic chapters, allowing students to examine specific events in light of theoretical approaches and regional patterns. This has been my favorite textbook of Latin American politics for years. -- Felipe Amin Filomeno, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Latin American Politics makes a significant contribution to the relevancy of Latin American politics by focusing on select topics that are pertinent to the continent as a whole, rather than examining each of the region's countries in isolation. -- Nibaldo Galleguillos, McMaster University The lucky students who, through this book, are introduced to the study of politics and power in Latin America, will learn not only about Latin American political history, culture, processes, and institutions, but also about their own political history and traditions. David Close uses Latin America as a mirror that Canadian and American students can use to better understand the nature of their own domestic politics, as well as the politics of other countries outside Latin America. He achieves this feat by combining two approaches: area studies to capture the historical specificity of Latin America, and conceptual comparative politics to develop an understanding of similarities and differences between Latin America and other regions of the world. -- Andres Perez-Baltodano, Western University

Latin American Politics, Second Edition is a thematic introduction to the political systems of all 20 Latin American countries.Latin American Politics, Second Edition is a thematic introduction to the political systems of all 20 Latin American countries. The approach is self-consciously comparative and encourages students to develop stronger comparative analysis skills through such topics as history, violence, democracy, and political economy. Fully updated and revised, this second edition also includes a new chapter on parties, elections, and movements. Each chapter is now framed by a prologue and an epilogue to engage students and provide more country-specific content.