Legacies of the Left Turn in Latin America

Reviews / Votes

"Two decades ago, Latin America took a dramatic turn to the Left of the political spectrum as the so-called 'Pink Tide' swept across the region, ushering in governments that pursued radically different economic and social policies from their predecessors. Today that tide has mostly receded, and this collection takes stock of what went well, what did not, and what lasting effects the turn to the Left will have on Latin America." -Choice

"This book is a must read for anyone seeking to understand Latin America. It will surely become an essential academic reference for evaluating the legacies of the Latin American Left. With contributions from distinguished scholars, this edited volume provides the most nuanced and detailed view of the complexity of this phenomenon. It analyzes an array of crucial policy dimensions with a careful evaluation of advances, limitations, as well as the variety of experiences that generate distinct legacies across the region." -Maria Victoria Murillo, Director of the Institute of Latin American Studies, Columbia University

"Legacies of the Left Turn in Latin America provides a nuanced and comprehensive analysis of the effects of left-of-center governments on social inclusion in the region by a star-studded group of contributors. The authors find that leftist governments have had a mixed record at best and that many of the hopes of the left have gone unfulfilled. This book is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the Latin American left or social inequality in the region." -Raul L. Madrid, University of Texas at Austin

"Has Latin America's recent turn to the left achieved its main goal of promoting inclusive citizenship? Through careful, thorough analyses of a wide range of policy areas and countries, a great group of scholars finds only partial success. There were important advances, but also significant limitations and setbacks, due to goal conflicts, economic imperatives, and political constraints. Highly recommended as a balanced assessment of the "pink tide"!" -Kurt Weyland, University of Texas at Austin

"This excellent volume makes an important, early contribution to our understanding of the consequences of Latin America's Left turn. The chapters paint an appropriately nuanced picture of what changed in the exercise of citizenship and what did not, eschewing facile conclusions and embracing complexity." -Kent Eaton, University of California, Santa Cruz

"Given the quality of the contributors to this book, it is no surprise that the level of scholarship is high throughout. This is a highly readable book, and one that promises to be relevant to a broad range of academics in the social sciences." -John Polga-Hecimovich, United States Naval Academy