"This collection of essays provides a very important contribution to the analysis of the discourse, practices and institutions of modernity in Latin America. Rather than agreeing on the usefulness of the analytical place of modernity, the authors - who come from various disciplines and are leading experts on different countries - disagree and debate implicitly with one another. This creates a collection that serves as a fascinating tool for learning about the ambiguous and tension-ridden connections of Latin American societies to some of the central ideas and institutions of Western modernity."

- Luis Roniger, Reynolds Professor of Political Science and Latin American Studies, Wake Forest University

NICOLA MILLER is a Reader in Latin American Studies, University College, London, UK.
STEPHEN HART is Professor of Latin American Studies, University College, London, UK.