Handbook of Central American Governance (Routledge International Handbooks)

Central America constitutes a fascinating case study of the challenges, opportunities and characteristics of the process of transformation in todays global economy. Comprised of a politically diverse range of societies, this region has long been of interest to students of economic development and political change. This title aims to describe and explain the manifold processes that are taking place in Central America that are altering patterns of social, political and economic governance, with particular focus on the impact of globalization and democratization. Containing sections on topics such as state and democracy, key political and social actors, inequality and social policy and international relations, in addition to in-depth studies on five key countries (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala), this text is composed of contributions from some of the leading scholars in the field. No other single volume studies the current characteristics of the region from a political, economic and social perspective or reviews recent research in such detail. As such, this handbook is of value to academics, students and researchers as well as to policy-makers and those with an interest in governance and political processes. Cover Handbook of Central American Governance Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations Editors and contributors Prologue: Central America: modernizing backwardness 1 Introduction: Central America's triple transition and the persistent power of the elite Part I Development and income (re)distribution 2 The great transformation in Central America: transnational accumulation and the evolution of capital 3 Central American migration, remittances and transnational development 4 Natural disasters, climate change and environmental challenges in Central America 5 The distribution of income in Central America 6 Social policy in Central America: stubborn legacies, positive yet limited change Part II Democratization and the state 7 Advancing the study of stateness in Central America: methodology and some illustrative findings 8 Authoritarian and democratic regimes in Central America 9 Institutional legitimacy in Central America: 2004-10 10 Central American (High) Courts 11 The Central American military: building democratic control in post-conflict societies 12 Drug-trafficking and governance in Central America Part III Key political and social actors 13 Political parties: the right 14 Political parties: the left 15 The transformation of Central American economic elites: from local tycoons to transnational business groups 16 Social movements in Central America 17 Indigenous and Afro-descendant social movements in Central America Part IV International relations 18 Central America's relations with the United States of America 19 Central America's relations with Latin America 20 Regional integration in Central America 21 The role of international financial institutions in Central America Part V Country experiences 22 Costa Rica 23 El Salvador 24 Guatemala 25 Honduras 26 Nicaragua Index Central America constitutes a fascinating case study of the challenges, opportunities and characteristics of the process of transformation in today's global economy. Comprised of a politically diverse range of societies, this region has long been of interest to students of economic development and political change. The Handbook of Central American Governance aims to describe and explain the manifold processes that are taking place in Central America that are altering patterns of social, political and economic governance, with particular focus on the impact of globalization and democratization. Containing sections on topics such as state and democracy, key political and social actors, inequality and social policy and international relations, in addition to in-depth studies on five key countries (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala), this text is composed of contributions from some of the leading scholars in the field. No other single volume studies the current characteristics of the region from a political, economic and social perspective or reviews recent research in such detail. As such, this handbook is of value to academics, students and researchers as well as to policy-makers and those with an interest in governance and political processes. This handbook takes a multidisciplinary approach towards examining the political, social and economic governance and development of this diverse region, with a focus on Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Written and edited by experts in the field, this text is of value to academics, students and practitioners.