Politics Latin America Gavin O'Toole If Latin America is famous for anything, it is for the rebellious temperament of its people. From this turbulent region of the world have emerged global symbols of both revolutionary struggle and reactionary brutality some of history's most romantic icons, from Simoacute;n Boliacute;var to Che Guevara, as well as some of the most stereotypical dictators, such as Rafael Trujillo and Augusto Pinochet. But why is Latin America important in the study of politics, why has it taken so long to achieve democracy, and how can this achievement be interpreted? Politics Latin America explores the unique circumstances that have shaped political evolution in this captivating region of 20 independent countries and examines the exciting new phase in politics now underway there. For the first time, almost an entire region of the developing world suffering from significant levels of poverty and inequality is organized under democratic government. The book explores why it has taken so long to achieve democracy in Latin America and how this development can be interpreted, while also equipping students to tackle major issues of global politics by: providing theoretical tools for analysing key contemporary themes such as democratization, institution-building or US foreign policy; offering novel insights from Latin America's experience as a laboratory for political and economic experiments; allowing examination of relations between countries from different cultural and political traditions enjoying starkly different levels of development; illustrating the stresses and strains which can affect all democracies. Latin American democracy has been, and in many places is still being, hard won: power has often been misused and institutions have frequently failed. The construction of strong, stable institutions is now of paramount importance to the region's future. Gavin O'Toole's novel approach to Latin American politics puts these institutions at the very heart of the discipline, and provides insights into both this fascinating region and global political trends. Gavin O'Toole is an academic and a journalist. He has taught Latin American politics and democratic theory at Queen Mary, University of London, and held seminars at Birkbeck College and the former Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS) in London. He is currently Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for the Study of the Americas, University of London.