Product Description: Colombia in the mid-1990s was in deep trouble. The insurgent group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) appeared capable of defeating the Colombian military in pitched battles and, combined with the Army of National Liberation (ELN) and growing paramilitary forces, controlled vast areas of the country...read more

Product Description: Until two attempts at military coups in 1992, Venezuela enjoyed political stability that was exceptional for a Latin American nation under a succession, going back to 1958, of constitutionally chosen presidents. Venezuela had leaders who were socially responsible and progressive, funding social programs with money the state earned from petroleum exports...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)