Development Postponed

Book excerpt: The collapse of political institutions and the failure of economic development models in Central America have turned the region into an ideological battleground. Central Americans are now debating— and fighting over—different conceptions of how to constitute society, the best way to organize production and to distribute benefits, and the political structures best suited to protecting the region's security and ensuring its future prosperity. This book examines die economic and political roots of the current crisis, reviewing the different strategies governments have adopted to cope with their financial woes and evaluating the role that international financial assistance has played in postponing adjustment to the crisis. The region's economies are carefully analyzed to highlight sectors with the potential to generate recovery and growth, and the larger political economy models that might direct the development process are also evaluated. The authors close with a discussion of the fundamental question: Can a Central America composed of a heterogeneous mix of national political economies live at peace with itself and the world?