The focus for students of Latin America in the past decade has been on the political forces of the left and the so-called 'pink tide' presidencies attempting to bring about social and economic change in the region. However, there has been far less attention paid to the rightwing political forces resisting such change. Such opposition is being orchestrated by political parties, business, the private media and other social and cultural institutions and is linked to the 'soft power' of US diplomacy. In recent years its activities have often appeared to challenge the democratic process itself.

Based on a variety of original fieldwork and evidence, this volume addresses the current trajectories of rightwing politics in Latin America in the face of leftist governments, the discrediting of neoliberalism, and the decline of US hegemony. It includes chapters on US policy towards Latin America; the role of US-based think-tanks; the influence of transnational business and of the private media; as well as offering country-specific chapters on key states with rightwing governments and on opposition to left-of-centre governments in Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile.

A revealing and important book for anyone interested in contemporary Latin American politics.

Dr. Francisco Dominguez is Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies, Middlesex University. He has recently edited Mercosur: Between Integration and Democracy (2003); 'Violence, the Left and the Creation of Un Nuevo Chile', in W. Fowler and P. Lambert (eds.) Political Violence and Identity in Latin America (2008), 'The rise of the private sector in Cuba' in A. I. Gray and A.Kapcia (eds.) The Changing Dynamic of Cuban Civil Society (2008), and 'The Latin Americanization of the politics of emancipation' in Reclaiming Latin America: Experiments in Radical Social Democracy (2009)

Dr. Geraldine Lievesley is Senior Lecturer, and teaches Latin American and Cuban Politics at Manchester Metropolitan University. Amongst her recent publications are: Reclaiming Latin America: Experiments in Radical Social Democracy (2009, with Steve Ludlam), The Cuban Revolution. Past, Present and Future Perspectives (2004), and In the Hands of Women.

Dr Steve Ludlam is Senior Lecturer, and teaches Cuban and Latin American politics at the University of Sheffield. His recent publications include 'Cuba at 50 - what about the workers?' Bulletin of Latin American Research (2009); Reclaiming Latin America: Experiments in Radical Social Democracy (2009, with Geraldine Lievesley), Labour, the State, Social Movements and the Challenge of Neo-liberal Globalisation (2007, with Andrew Gamble, Andrew J. Taylor, and Stephen Wood).
Dr. Francisco Dominguez is Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies, Middlesex University. He has recently edited Mercosur: Between Integration and Democracy (2003); 'Violence, the Left and the Creation of Un Nuevo Chile', in W. Fowler and P. Lambert (eds.) Political Violence and Identity in Latin America (2008), 'The rise of the private sector in Cuba' in A. I. Gray and A.Kapcia (eds.) The Changing Dynamic of Cuban Civil Society (2008), and 'The Latin Americanization of the politics of emancipation' in Reclaiming Latin America: Experiments in Radical Social Democracy (2009)

Dr. Geraldine Lievesley is Senior Lecturer, and teaches Latin American and Cuban Politics at Manchester Metropolitan University. Amongst her recent publications are: Reclaiming Latin America: Experiments in Radical Social Democracy (2009, with Steve Ludlam), The Cuban Revolution. Past, Present and Future Perspectives (2004), and In the Hands of Women.

Dr Steve Ludlam is Senior Lecturer, and teaches Cuban and Latin American politics at the University of Sheffield. His recent publications include 'Cuba at 50 - what about the workers?' Bulletin of Latin American Research (2009); Reclaiming Latin America: Experiments in Radical Social Democracy (2009, with Geraldine Lievesley), Labour, the State, Social Movements and the Challenge of Neo-liberal Globalisation (2007, with Andrew Gamble, Andrew J. Taylor, and Stephen Wood).