Intended for newcomers to the study of Latin America, this collection of 14 articles gives fundamental background issues, themes and directions in countries throughout this complex and largely misunderstood region, emphasizing its current political, social and economic developments. Topics include the geographical and historical contexts, including the human geography and the affects of colonialism, politics, including the rise of bureaucratic authoritarianism, the military, including the rise of the post-national security state, the history of regional economics and the current state of development, international relations, the environment in terms of population and urbanization, the patterns of race and ethnicity as well as class and nationalism, women in work and politics, education and the mass media, religion and the rise of spiritism and Protestantism, literature and popular culture, and trends and prospects. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Read Less