This popular text, now in its fourth edition, is a lively interpretive history that has been brought up to date in all areas, including the ongoing war against international drug trafficking, the difficulties and promises of NAFTA, the increasing trend toward democratic and pluralist politics, and the large-scale immigration of Latin Americans into the United States. As in earlier editions, the authors use an in-depth case-study approach that guides students through the major countries of Latin America, highlighting central themes such as European-New World interaction, racial mixtures, military takeovers, and U.S. intervention in the region. Completely expanded and updated throughout, this edition includes a broad overview of the region during the 1990s and provides a revised epilogue that takes stock of the recent developments, offering insights as to what the future holds for Latin America.