Includes bibliographical references and index.

With the collapse of Soviet communism, the Latin American left, whether in or out of power, faces challenges that will inevitably affect the United States' involvement in the region. In this searching and insightful analysis, the Mexican political scientist Jorge Castaneda shows why hostility and misunderstanding between the left and the United States have endured since the 1920s, and why we have never fully understood or adequately dealt with the vast region to the south. In the past, Soviet-oriented Communist parties throughout the hemisphere have blamed every evil on the United States. But not once, claims Castaneda, has the Latin left proved capable of solving its dilemma of how to carry out revolution or lasting reforms without incurring the wrath of Washington. Castaneda examines the strengths and weaknesses of Fidel Castro, Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, the Peronists, Lula and the PT in Brazil, the Sandinistas, the Shining Path, and other representatives of the left. Rich in incident and revealing anecdotes and portraits, Utopia Unarmed describes the clashing interests, distrust, and insensitivity that have mailed the conflict between the two continents, and that in their repetitive nature would seem comical were it not for their tragic outcomes. Finally, the book outlines the dramatic changes that are taking place today in Latin America which are likely to produce a modern, mature, and truly imaginative relationship with the United States that has been absent in the past.

SACFinal081324