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1970s military dictatorship in Latin America was followed by a democratization process in the 1980s, at a point when military powers had devastated the economy & more than doubled foreign debt. Now, in the beginning of the twenty-first century, the region finds itself in a period marked by governments that, perhaps more than ever before, are characterized by their reaction to the neo-liberal policies of the 1990s. Of particular concern in this respect is the changing relationship between the region & the United States, which in turn opens opportunity for the involvement of other international actors in the sphere. This brings about a high degree of uncertainty both for Latin America itself as well as for the international community. Some of the many cases of Latin American economies & politics in crisis are described here in detail. C Brunski

Both industrialized nations and Latin American developing countries are losers under the burden of the crushing debt crisis. Although lower population growth rates and a certain increase in exports do permit a measure of optimism, Latin America may be facing a future of social turmoil and the possibility of military take-overs. If, on the other hand, the region's debt burden could be reduced, the future could bring an influx of foreign capital providing new growth and a strengthening of the democratric process