Politics and Economic Change in Latin America

Politics and Economic Change in Latin America, by Charles W. Anderson (Van Nostrand, $3.95). The art of generalizing the Latin American panorama is a demanding test for any writer or scholar. Political scientist Anderson (University of Wisconsin) passes with good marks. Keeping his eyes firmly fastened on what is, rather than what ought to be, Anderson points out that the politics of development, like any other sort of politics, remain the art of the possible. In addition, he makes a convincing case for asking the economists to consider the political side before they go off proposing grandiose economic development plans. The experience of ten Latin American countries is discussed on the basis of Anderson’s general approach. Unfortunately, too many of the author’s incisive and refreshing observations are obscured in tedious banks of grey academese, a failing which will keep the general reader away from this otherwise fine and interesting book.