Makers of Democracy in Latin America.

124 p. Aus der Bibliothek von Prof. Wolfgang Haase, langjährigem Herausgeber der ANRW und des International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT) / From the library of Prof. Wolfgang Haase, long-time editor of ANRW and the International Journal of the Classical Tradition (IJCT). - Altersbedingt vergilbt, sonst guter Zustand / Yellowed due to age, otherwise in good condition. - Introduction Democracy in Latin America Our age, possibly more than any other, is devoted to historical and biographical literature. In particular, the lives of past and present leaders of democracy fill the pages of our books, our newspapers and our magazines. Yet somehow, in this instance as in others, we have tended to overlook Latin America. Although the history of our southern neighbor republics touches ours in many ways, and reveals scores of writers, artists, scientists, and political and social leaders who have given themselves unstintingly, and often at great sacrifice and risk, to the tasks of forming prosperous democratic societies, we in the United States know little of these leaders. This volume will deal only with those who have labored at the political and social aspects of building democratic societies and governments. A complete hall of fame would include many more, not only in the social and political fields, but in such fields as literature, art, music, religion and science as well. Behind the pageantry of revolutions, of self-seeking politicians, of militarists and self-conscious dictators strutting their brief moments of unenviable distinction on the stage of their countries’ history, lies the real Latin America. It is a Latin America which varies widely in democratic achievement from country to country, and which frequently presents the widest range of difference in social and economic achievement within a given country. It consists of millions of hardworking, humble folk, restless and confused by their own destiny. It is a dynamic, expanding society, wrestling with its mountains, struggling in the conquest of its vast plains and its tropical river valleys, and of its rich natural resources. It is a new society, with a new and rapidly growing population, rising slowly out of the Indian, European and Negro populations and the diverse cultural elements which have gone into its making. Gifted in many ways, but frustrated and sometimes exploited, it is a society bursting its bonds of tradition and colonial dependence, assimilating the new ways of a technological and industrial order, and frequently revolting against it. But above all it is dynamic, growing, expanding, with its eyes on the future. For those who have eyes to see, it is calling clearly for political, technical, cultural and spiritual leadership of the highest order of skill, insight and determination, to organize its growing activity and power. This need for leadership is great and always has been great. Leaders of first rank have appeared all too infrequently.