American Foreign Policy Toward Latin America in the 80s and 90s

"A wide-ranging set of studies by a recognized academic expert on Latin America who has an unusual understanding of the policy process, based on many years at an influential Washington think tank. It combines sophisticated and critical use of social science theory with a thorough knowledge of specifics. Ideal for use in advanced undergraduate and graduate classes." --Paul e. Sigmund, Princeton University, author ofLiberation Theology at the CrossroadsandMultinationals in Latin America "Professor Wiarda's accumulated corpus of comment on the past decade of U.S.-Latin relations is a treasure, blessed with uncanny insight and a sense for the jugular vein of policy. He is at the top of the heap among this country's experts in his understanding of what the Western Hemisphere is all about." --Williams d. Rogers, Former Assistant, Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs This thoughtful, controversial book, by one of the country's leading Latin America scholars, examines the fundamental tenets and ideologies behind America's policy towards Latin America over the course of the last three administrations. Howard Wiarda, who has served as a consultant for the State Department, the Department of the Army, the National Security Council, the Kissinger Commission, and the White House, is ideally situated to provide an insider account of policy decisions and process during the Reagan-Bush era. The combination of Wiarda's academic background and his hands-on knowledge of Washington practices and processes results in a volume that is extremely readable and will serve as a vital link between the scholarly and policymaking communities. Wiarda supplements his incisive analysis on the role of the military in Latin America, shifting U.S. strategic policy, democracy and human rights, and the problems presented by dictators in decline with illuminating case studies of Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, South America, and the Caribbean. The result is a book that will be of interest to both scholars and students of American foreign policy and Latin American studies, as well as policymakers and analysts.