The Legacies of Liberalism

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Examining the political regimes of Central America in the twentieth century, the book explores how nineteenth-century liberal reforms shaped distinct paths for Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Through a theory of "path dependence," it highlights how early choices influenced the development of military-authoritarian, liberal democratic, and traditional dictatorial systems. The author warns that aggressive market creation in today's neoliberal context could lead to adverse political outcomes, providing a theoretical framework relevant to scholars of comparative politics and history.