Latin America is an enduring source of fascination to the student of politics. Within the territory that lies between the Rio Grande and Tierra del Fuego there exist exceptionally diverse forms of political life ranging from the very traditional to the revolutionary. Fundamental issues of politics, economic development, and social justice are still intensely debated throughout the region, and governments continue to experiment with competing forms of political rule and public policy. But Latin America is also a source of frustration to those who try to comprehend its public affairs. Its immense variety and diversity defy simple description, and the behavior of its leaders repeatedly confounds observers. It is no wonder many students of the region prematurely abandon their quest soon after they have begun, convinced that the analysis of Latin America's intrigues should be left to the expert or to those involved in its daily affairs.

Some of this frustration is justified, of course. Latin America is a vast region where 316 million people of European, Indo-American, African, and Asian heritage occupy an area larger than the United States. Its politics are complex, the motives of its leaders often obscure, and its range of experience great.