Political systems of latin America / edited by Martin C. Needler

Considerable changes have taken place on the Latin American scene since the first edition of this book went to press in 1963. Of course, it was our aim to discuss the underlying constants of politics in the various coun tries of the region and not merely to summarize recent events, and so the passage of time in itself need not have made an extensive revision neces sary. In fact, in several of the chapters few revisions were required. How ever, social and political change has been so extensive during this period that in some cases the fundamental character of a country's politics has been completely altered, as in Bolivia and Brazil.

Several chapters in the second edition are completely new: the one on the Dominican Republic, by Howard Wiarda, that on Uruguay, by Marvin Alisky, and the editor's concluding chapter. The remaining chapters have been revised to the extent made necessary by changing events or further insights. The original authors have themselves made the revisions in the chapters on Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil; the other chapters have been revised by the editor. It is hoped that the changes will make the book an even more useful instrument of education and service.