Written in accessible language, The Third Wave of Modernization in Latin America analyzes a wide variety of themes, from rural and urban poverty to environmental and cultural identity issues. Each chapter, written exclusively for this volume, focuses on a particular country. Included are case studies of organizations that have been influenced by current neoliberal policies; critical perspectives on restructuring, free trade, and modernization; an overview of Latin America's recent past to explain why neoliberalism has become a predominant policy in the region; and analyses of the environment, women's issues, and native communities in the context of modernization. The book is divided into the following sections.