Latin America at the Century's Turn

Abstract

A skeptical, even pessimistic mood has been gathering in and about Latin America. Only two or three years ago, many observers were trumpeting the region's determined march toward free-market economics and constitutional democratic politics. Today, however, one must recognize the region's lackluster overall economic performance, the reversion toward authoritarian practices in some countries, and the pervasive limits on both free markets and effective democratic governance. It is hard to be upbeat about Latin America and the Caribbean at the century's turn.