Part I: The Latin American tradition and process of development / Harvey F. Kline and Christine J. Wade -- Part II: The political systems of South America -- Argentina: the economic tango continues / Linda Chen -- Brazil: the politics of elite rule / Britta H. Crandall -- Chile: from democracy to dictatorship and back / Peter M. Siavelis -- Columbia: is Guerrilla violence near its end? / Harvey F. Kline -- Peru: overcoming the authoritarian legacy at last? / Julio F. Carrión and David Scott Palmer -- Venezuela: political decay amid the struggle for regime legitimacy / David J. Myers -- Uruguay: balancing growth and democracy / Martin Weinstein and Jorge Rebella -- Paraguay: the uneven trajectory / Sebastian A. Meyer -- Bolivia: changes, continuities, and contradictions / Miguel Centellas -- Ecuador: change and continuity after ten years of New Left revolution / Jennifer N. Collins -- Part III: The political systems of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean -- Mexico: democratization and violence / José Luis Velasco -- Cuba: revolution in the balance? / Juan M. del Aguila, Frank O. Mora, and Brian Fonseca -- Costa Rice / Mitchell A. Seligson -- Nicaragua: an uncertain future / Richard L. Millett -- El Salvador: civil war to uncivil peace / Christine J. Wade -- Guatemala: breaking free of the past? / Michael E. Allison -- Honduras: democracy in peril / J. Mark Ruhl -- Panama: political culture and the struggle to build democracy / Orlando J. Pérez -- The Dominican Republic: democracy, still a work in progress / Lilian Bobea -- Haiti: searching for democratic governance / Georges A. Fauriol.