Table of Contents
List of Tables, Maps, and Figures xiii
Preface to the Seventh Edition xv
Acknowledgments xvii
List of Acronyms xix
1 Crisis and Transformation 1
Why Study Central America? 3
2 Global Forces and System Change in Central America 13
Poverty and Its Causes 14
Regime Change in Central America 29
Three Literatures on Regime Change 34
A Theory of Regime Change in Central America 37
Explaining Regime Change in Central America 39
Discussion 46
3 The Common History 57
Preconquest 57
Conquest to 1838 58
1838 To the Present 62
4 Costa Rica 75
Historical Background 76
Weathering Global Forces 79
The Economic Development Model Transformed 83
Changes in Politics and Parties 87
Contemporary Costa Rican Politics 90
Conclusions 94
5 Nicaragua 101
Historical Background 101
Global Forces and Insurrection 104
Replacing the Revolution 116
Contemporary Nicaraguan Politics 120
Conclusions 135
6 El Salvador 149
Historical Background 150
Global Forces and Insurrection 152
El Salvador Since the Peace Accord 163
Conclusions 178
7 Guatemala 191
Historical Background 191
Global Forces and Conflict 195
The Civilian Transitional Regime and the Civil War 201
The Peace Accords and Aftermath 204
Contemporary Society and Politics 211
Conclusions 219
8 Honduras 235
Historical Background 235
Weathering Global Forces 239
Contemporary Honduran Politics 249
Conclusions 260
9 Political Participation, Attitudes, and Democracy 273
Citizen Participation 274
Citizen Attitudes 283
Factors Shaping Attitudes and Participation 290
Demographic Subpopulations 295
Implications for Stability and Emigration 299
Conclusions 302
10 Power, Democracy, and Us Policy in Central America 309
The Problem of Power 310
Democracy 311
Mobilization 313
The Roots of US Policy in Central America 315
Communism in Central America 318
Demobilization in Central America 322
US Policy in the Post-Cold War Period 328
Conclusions 337
11 Reflections and Projections 347
Reflections: Repression, Mobilization, and Democratic Transition 347
Central America's Unique Patterns of Transition 349
Projections: Prospects for Democratic Consolidation 354
Globalized Economies and Democracy 363
Conclusions 365
Appendix 371
About the Authors 385
Index 387
