This month, NATIONAL GUARD sought books illuminating current threats and conditions in Latin America. Below are four titles and accompanying commentary from the U.S. Southern Command reading list.
Civil-Military Relations in Latin America: New Analytical Perspectives By David Pion-Berlin
The armed forces may no longer rule nations in Latin America, but they continue to influence democratic governments across the region. In nine original, thought-provoking essays, this book offers fresh theoretical insights into the dilemmas facing Latin American politicians.
The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad By Fareed Zakaria
A remarkable guide to the maior challenges, both foreign and domestic, that face America in the 21st century. The thesis is that too much democratization and decentralization, two notions that are often hailed as universally good, can be disastrous.
The Unraveling of Representative Democracy in Venezuela By Jennifer McCoy and David Myers
In 1992, Hugo Chavez Frias attempted an unsuccessful military coup. Six years later, he was elected president. Once in power. Chavez redrafted the 1961 constitution, dissolved the Congress, dismissed judges and marginalized rival political parties. Other Latin American democracies watched with mixed reactions: If representative democracy could break down so quickly in Venezuela, it could easily happen in countries with less-established traditions.
The United States and Latin America: The New Agenda (David Rockefeller Center Series on Latin American Studies) By Victor Bulmer-Thomas, Victor and James Dunkerley
The end of the Cold War removed hemispheric security from the top of the agenda of U.S.-Latin American relations. This book contains 15 essays by distinguished U.S., Latin American, and European scholars that address the changing historical context from the 19th century to the end of the Cold War.
The complete list is available at www.southcom.mil/AppsSC/readingList.php.
Did You Know?
The Air National Guard will provide about half of the Air Force's air refueling capability through at least 2025.
© 2007 National Guard Association of the United States Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Source: National Guard
