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Great Book
If you want to understand why interstate relations in South America have remained one of the most peaceful in the globe in the last 70 years, I think this is the right book for you.

In Militarist Peace in South America, Félix Martín seeks to explain how peace can be explained in a region whose realist conditions for war are present and the liberal conditions for peace are absent. After proceeding through a meticulous test of both the realist and the liberal hypotheses to the causes of war and peace, Martín concludes that the South American peace, which has impressively lasted for over seventy years,has been maintained mainly through the transnational dimension of the military institution in South America. Instead of being the protectors of the states from external threats, the militaries of the South American nations have become the guardians of the state from internal political foes. This, Martín asserts, is the main reason for the long South American peace.

What is relevant to note here is that Martín found only a small causal relationship between the most relevant realist propositions and the prevalence of peace in that region of the globe. He tested dyadic deterrence, balance of power, and hegemonic stability theories, but only the first one provided explanation - and a partial one - to the absence of conflict in South America. In four out of the eight cases studied the defender, given a clear superior material capability, has deterred the challenger. The Argentine-Brazilian and the Bolivian-Chilean dyads are the most compelling examples. As for the balance of power theory, Martín argues that it can not offer an adequate explanation to the stability of the South American continent. This is because both the periods of conflict and those of peace coincided with a bipolar configuration of the sub-system, and thus bipolarity can not explain the permanence of peace.

Finally, the peacekeeping and peacemaking impact of the U.S. on the South American peace is too tenuous to provide an explanation to the prevention of wars in South America.

A great scholarly achievement. I totally recommend!
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This book traces the development of settlements and economic systems, as well as provide up-to-date information and interpretation of the contemporary problems of South America.

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The rapid pace of regional transformation in South America promises to shape international politics well into the next decade. This book offers an examination of the region's international relations, with emphasis on how this new era in domestic and international politics will affect the policies of the many actors involved. Looking specifically at South America beyond the Caribbean Basin, the authors discuss the legacy of intra-regional conflict, which has given way in recent years to important initiatives for co-operation, and assess the factors that may facilitate or deter co-operation in the future. Several chapters focus on the interests of countries outside the region, with some authors arguing that US influence has declined dramatically over the last two decades, forcing the United States to contend with a relatively independent region that has important extra-hemispheric linkages. The contributors also explore the region's relations with European countries - relations that are becoming more extensive, especially in terms of economic and cultural ties, and more recently have begun to involve arms transfers as well.Finally, the book discusses substantive economic issues, including foreign trade and investment and the problem of external debt, focusing on the role of internal and external state actors, international organizations, and commercial banks. The contributors offer alternative policies for structuring South American external debt along with their analyses of the problems. ... Read more

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In this masterly work, Lester D. Langley compares political and social histories of three revolutions in the Americas: the American Revolution in 1776, the 1791 slave revolt in the French colony that became Haiti, and the prolonged Spanish American struggle for independence. Langley explores the characteristics that distinguished each upheaval, and he shows how the legacies of the revolutionary age affect virtually every modern political issue.Amazon.com Review
Within half a century, three European empires fell to Americanmovements for independence.In this innovative and sophisticatedaccount of comparative history, Lester D. Langley considers therevolutions in the American colonies, Saint Domingue (later Haiti),and the "Iberoamerican" independence movements in SouthAmerica. He compares class leadership, racial factors, and therelative violence of each movement.His study alters the typicalframework for analyzing American independence as he considersrevolution from a dynamic or systemic perspective. Eschewing questionsof causation such as "Why did the revolutions occur?" or"What did they achieve?" he explores instead the importanceof place and location as well as what the revolts brought in terms ofindustrialization, militarization, and material progress.ProfessorLangley's arguments are based in an intriguing understanding of chaostheory, which he applies to the interpretation of historicalexperience in order to draw out the roles of probability andrandomness as constraints on and conditions for the variousrevolutionary movements. ... Read more

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A Cuban/Spanish journalist and author examines the historical and cultural influences that shaped Latin America and suggests how they have made it into the most impoverished, unstable and backward region in the Western world.

No one ever saw what happened in Latin America as legitimate or just -- including the descendants of the Conquistadors themselves, says Montaner.

Today's patent economic failure, political instability and poor scientific contribution stem greatly from this unique history. Spaniards, Creoles, Indians and Blacks all have their own aggrieved perspectives, and all are partly justified.

Montaner draws on the cultural and historical currents that made up Spain at the time of the Conquest, including the Gothic, Moorish, Christian and Jewish elements; and explores how Spain tackled the challenge of co-opting, rather than exterminating, the native peoples. A more humane approach than that undertaken in North America, it nonetheless laid the foundations for the long-lasting conflict and confusion that still make Latin America unruly today. ... Read more

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Well-Rounded and Intriguing Resource
This is a very interesting and more importantly readable book. It attempts to dissect the reasons for Latin America's lagging from the rest of the world. To do so it covers an immense amount of history, culture, and personality of the people in charge. The beauty of this book is that it is not a pure economics or political science text, but a window into every element that affected Latin America's current position in the world. Wonderful, easy reading. ... Read more

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Caught between declining revenues and increasing demands for social spending, the countries of Latin America have faced serious fiscal imbalances in the 1980s and 1990s. While macroeconomic and efficiency considerations have guided most attempts to control these deficits, this book looks at how public resources are distributed. It identifies the distributional impact of several key vehicles for resource transfers, including tax systems, public health care, education, pension funds, price controls and subsidies to the productive sectors. Country studies of Chile, the Dominican Republic, Peru and Venezuela focus particular attention on the deterioration of income distribution over the past two decades and its effect on inflation and unemployment. The studies classify distribution programmes based on the proportion of per capita transfers directed to low-income groups. A summary chapter compares the country studies and recommends programme designs and shifts in spending priorities that could improve government efficiency and achieve greater distributive equity throughout the region. ... Read more

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Privatization of large national enterprises has been the most far-reaching of Latin America's dramatic structural reforms, the objective being to underpin fiscal stability by shedding huge capital requirements. But long-term gains to the economy also depend on factors such as increased efficiency through better communications and infrastructure, and on a more dynamic private sector. Have these gains been achieved? In this volume, leading economists of Chile, Mexico and Argentina assess the impact of privatization on fiscal stability, enterprise and economic efficiency, national savings, the development of capital markets, and advances in technology from micro- and macro-economic perspectives. ... Read more

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They are still the forgotten people of America, theirvictories little noticed, their problems overshadowed by the largergroups around them. But the Native American tribes of the South andthe East are writing new chapters in their people's history, and inthat history every tribe is different. Each has its own story, its ownintermingling of triumph and struggle and difficult problems thatremain to be solved. This book is a collection of these stories, arecord of a great coming together, ancient enemies who are findingcommon ground. The Cherokees, Catawbas, Choctaws, Creeks,Narragansetts, Wampanoags, Seminoles, Oneidas, Mohawks, Penobscots,Tuscaroras, Pequots, Coushatas, Pamunkeys, Chippewas, andTunica-Biloxi are just some of the tribes whose histories, currentstatus, and future aspirations are covered in As Long As the WatersFlow. ... Read more

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The invisible, forgotten Indians are still there
When most Americans think of Indians, they think of the Sioux on the Great Plains, the Navajo of the Southwest, but almost never the many tribes that still live east of the Mississippi River.This thoughtful book tells the stories of Indians as diverse as tye Penobscots of Maine, the Iroquois of New York, the Ho-Chunk and Chippewa of Wisconsin, the Pamunkeys of Virginia, the Cherokees and Lumbees of North Carolina, the Creeks of Alabama, and the Houmas and Chitimachas of Louisiana.Through history, profiles, and photographic portraits by Carolyn DeMeritt, Gaillard tells the stories of those who, despite disease, removal, poverty, and oppression have managed to remain and at times even thrive in the lands of their ancestors.This book should be in every county, public, and high school library east of the Mississippi, and probably west of the river too. ... Read more

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On September 20, 1988, Lauro Cavazos became the first Hispanic in the history of the United States to be appointed to the Cabinet, when then-vice president George H. W. Bush swore him in as secretary of education. Cavazos, born on the legendary King Ranch in South Texas and educated in a two-room ranch schoolhouse, served until December 1990, after which he returned to his career in medical education and academic administration.

In this engaging memoir, he recounts not only his years in Washington but also the childhood influences and life experiences that informed his policies in office. Offering glimpses into life on the famous ranch, Cavazos tells of Christmas parties, cattle work, and schooling.

Cavazos describes the high educational expectations his parents held. After service in World War II, Cavazos went to college and earned a doctorate from Iowa State University, launching his career in medical education.

Cavazos' career is as interesting as it is inspiring. His memoir joins the ranks of emerging success stories by Mexican Americans that will provide models for aspiring young people today. ... Read more

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A true educator in the Executive Branch
Dr. Cavazos gives us a vivid explanation of the reasons that politics gets in the way of educational reform. A man of integrity, he refused to bend to the demands of party politics. His emphasis on parental involvement, early preparation for schoolwork, and yes -- bilingual education -- have outlined a course of action we should all adopt. Cavazos is bilingual from his earliestyears. While he notes the importance of the Spanish language for its cultural roots, he emphases that English is the language of our country.

I give this book my highest recommendation.

an inspiring story
Dr. Cavazos' story was most inspiring and also entertaining. As he wrote of his days growing up on the King Ranch I could almost feel the dusty wind blowing in my face. His story just shows what anyone can achieve in this country. Having a great pair of parents and other role models just makes it easier. This country got where it is with the help of all the immigrants into our country and this book demonstrates a part of that. ... Read more

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Timothy Thomas Fortune (1856-1928) was an orator, civil rights leader, journalist, writer, editor and publisher. In 1876 he left Howard University and began working at the People's Advocate, a newspaper in Washington, D.C. At one time he also worked at the Marianna Courier and later the Jacksonville Daily- Times Union. These experiences would be the start of a career wherein he would go on to have his work published in over twenty books and articles and in more than three hundred editorials. Fortune moved to New York City in 1881 and began a process whereby over the next two decades he would become known as editor and owner of a newspaper named first the Globe, then the Freeman, and finally the New York Age, which became the most widely read of all Black newspapers. It stood against the evils of discrimination, lynching and mob violence. His works include: Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South (1884), The Kind of Education the Afro-American Most Needs (1898), Dreams of Life: Miscellaneous Poems (1905), and The New York Negro in Journalism (1915). ... Read more