Fast Forward: Latin America on the Edge of the 21st Century - Softcover

MacDonald, Scott B.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0765804956 ISBN 13: 9780765804952

Publisher: Routledge, 1998

Synopsis

Latin America is developing rapidly. As the authors see the region, a small group of countries has found a fast-forward button. In these countries change is exciting, occurring at such a rapid pace that a major breakthrough hi economic growth appears within grasp. After an almost decade-long period of recession and stagnation, many Latin American economies now have elected governments. With a few exceptions, most have also improved their socioeconomic conditions beyond meeting basic human needs. Yet few North Americans or Europeans are aware of these advances. How does Latin America fit into the changing world in the 1990s, and why should someone living in the United States, Europe, or developed parts of the Pacific Basin care?

Fast Forward shows that Latin America's economic renaissance clearly has implications for a post-Cold War world order. Latin America is starting to make ·important contributions, particularly in the areas of international diplomacy, economics, and culture. Collectively, Latin Americans now demonstrate a coherent collective will about where they wish to take themselves. This does not mean that U.S. influence in the Americas will soon disappear, but that new challenges in the international system will force greater equity in Western Hemisphere relationships.

While Latin America in the 1990s offers much to be excited about, the authors caution that there are dangers in being too enthusiastic. The always-present potential for top-down authoritarian approaches must temper enthusiasm about a better Latin American future. Despite this, the authors see a well-defined departure from past economic modes occurring and the potential for a higher level of development for some countries. This book is for economists, sociologists, and political scientists interested in economic and political development, and researchers interested in Latin America in particular.

About this title

About the Author:

Dr. Georges A. Fauriol is Director and Senior Fellow in Latin American Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is the co-author of six books including The Cuban Revolution: 25 Years Later (1984), and 23 articles. He holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania.

Review:

"Few Americans want to read about how horribly the United States has treated its southern neighbors. . . . Occasionally, however, something appears that is well worth reading. Such a book is Fast Forward by Scott MacDonald and Georges Fauriol, two experienced scholars who know Latin America well."

—Roger Fontaine, The Washington Times

"[The authors] offer maybe for the first time a comprehensive profile of the structural changes in politics, economics and society in modern Latin America. It's an optimistic portrait from authors with solid credentials. . . . Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Fauriol have decades of experience studying the area and have done their homework well. . . . Both authors are to be commended for bringing these realities into the light and for doing their part in lifting the aspirations of the people of two continents."

—John J. Tierney, Journal of Commerce

“MacDonald (a professional research analyst) and Fauriol (Center for Strategic and International Studies) argue that Latin America is indeed in the "fast forward" mode. That is, most Latin American nations have overcome many severe problems, instituted appropriate market-oriented reforms, and have bright prospects as important players in the international economy and as good bets for foreign investors. The authors... draw on a wide range of solid sources to produce clear-eyed political and economic analyses of the seven largest nations and of Cuba... The book and its copious citations would be a very good introduction to contemporary Latin America. Recommended highly for collections serving business and government professionals as well as students and informed general readers interested in Latin America.” 

—F. S. Weaver, Choice

"For Latin Americans concerned over the region's socio-economic future, Fast Forward provides insightful analysis and depicts a revolution that could rival the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, the end of the Soviet Union, and the economic boom among the 'Asian Tigers,' Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand."

—Gustavo Pena, Latin Trade

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0765804956
• ISBN 13: 9780765804952
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 318