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'Organized Religion in the Political Transformation of Latin America' edited by Satya R. Pattnayak is reviewed.

In order to gain a better understanding of the significance of the 1990 elections in Nicaragua, the author discusses the relationship between the 1984 elections in this country and democratization. He believes that a probable key factor in preventing the 1984 elections from establishing liberal democratic rule was the US policy toward Nicaragua. US attitude regarding the 1990 elections is discussed and the problems of consolidation of liberal democracy in Nicaragua are examined

The February 1990 elections in Nicaragua were hailed by the popular media and the US administration as signaling the country's rejection of authoritarian rule in favor of Western-style democracy. Most commentators interpreted the results in Nicaragua as part of a worldwide trend triggered by events in Eastern Europe. According to the conventional wisdom, as long as the Sandinistas handed over power, including control of the military and security forces, democracy would flourish in Nicaragua.While competitive elections may be a necessary condition for democracy, they certainly are not a sufficient one. Throughout history, countless elections have been held, yet relatively few have contributed much of anything to the consolidation of democratic rule. Elections can serve a number of functions other than the public contestation of power. For example, they can be used to legitimize an incumbent regime, diffuse political opposition, or respond to foreign pressure.

The involvement of Christians in the Nicaraguan Revolution is a clear manifestation of the profound changes taking place within the Nicaraguan Church as a whole. While a clear majority of the clergy took a stand against the injustices of the Somoza regime, a smaller group of priests and religious demonstrated a more profound commitment to radical structural transformation of society. Although their efforts to organize andconcientizar1rural and urban poor had serious political implications – in fact, many joined the guerrilla as a result of the 'radicalization of their faith' – to these priests and religious the political solutions available to counter growing social injustices and government abuses were few: either fight or capitulate. The bishops, on the other hand, were cautious about the pace of change and rejected the violent option, choosing instead an intermediate path. Unfortunately, such an option proved futile in the case of Nicaragua, and finally the bishops justified armed revolution as a viable alternative to systematic repression.

Contemporary scholarship that has examined the connection between politics, religion, & social change in Latin American nations is reviewed. Although much research emphasized the institutional aspects of church, society, & state relations in various Latin American countries, it is noted that some literature has investigated grassroots religious movements. Topics that have received attention in recent scholarship include the ambiguous status of progressive Catholicism in many nations, the emergence of Pentecostalism in Brazil & other countries, the influence of Pentecostalism upon constructions of gender & racial identities, the extent to which religious communities are affected by democracy & economic restructuring, & the effects of transnational migration upon family & social relationships. Although research on the affiliation between politics, religion, & social change has transcended institutional analysis, several directions for future research are suggested, eg, exploring Latin American power relations that are impacted by transnational migration, international corporations, & state & local actors. 94 References. J. W. Parker