"Burkholder, Johnson, and Rankin offer a compelling and provocative interpretation of Latin American history. This magisterial work is the product of decades of study and reflection by historians who have lived and researched in many Latin American countries. It is unique in its range of subjects and sophistication of analysis. This fine one-volume synthesis of Latin America, which moves deftly over the centuries, covers a broad range of topics including race, politics, economics, religion, urban and rural life, education, art, and literature."--Jaime E. Rodríguez Ordóñez,
University of California, Irvine "
Exploitation, Inequality, and Resistance is a sweeping, well-written tour de force of Latin American history since Columbus's voyage, paying due attention to social, cultural, political, and economic developments. It is required reading for undergraduate students and general readers alike."--Jurgen Buchenau,
University of North Carolina at Charlotte "This book is outstanding. It is the product of three major figures in the field, written in an exceedingly clear, accessible, and readable style, and impeccably organized and researched."--Peter Klaren,
George Washington University "The authors have managed to provide a survey of a complex region from its early colonial period to the present, and have done so elegantly and in a way that students--most of whom have no experience with Latin America or the Caribbean--will easily understand."--Teresita Levy,
Lehman College
The words "exploitation," "inequality," and "resistance" bind together attitudes and actions that encapsulate much of Latin America's economic, social, and political history for more than half a millennium. In this compelling text, authors Mark A. Burkholder, Lyman L. Johnson, and Monica A. Rankin tell the story of more than 500 years of Latin American history through the themes of exploitation, inequality, and resistance.
Some examples of exploitation and inequality include slavery and other labor systems, sexual and gender exploitation, an inequitable economic relationship with foreign countries, repressive political systems through dictatorship and military regimes, and an unequal diplomatic relationship with the United States and other powerful nations. Despite deeply entrenched systems of injustice, Latin Americans remain notable for their resilience. Active and passive resistance to oppression and discrimination still persist in the twenty-first century, with native revolts and slave flights, unionization, the emergence of the Latin American women's movement, black-market economies, the emergence of populism, and various forms of revolt and revolution. Exploitation, Inequality, and Resistance: A History of Latin America since Columbus emphasizes these themes and analyzes the ways in which earlier events continue to resonate today.