The US in Latin America - good neighbour or big bad wolf? Grace Livingstone sets aside the pious euphemisms of a past age and shows it has been much more the latter than the former. She also shows how US hegemony is draining away as the republics start forging their own destiny at last.

Hugh O'Shaughnessy, author of Pinochet: The Politics of Torture

Packed with telling information and written with both verve and attention to detail, this book addresses the key issues in a perennially uneven and generally unjust relationship. Readers coming to the theme for the first time will benefit from a lucid synthesis of the voluminous literature in the field, whilst those more familiar with Pan-American affairs will find much useful material and discussion on developments in recent years.

James Dunkerley, University of London

A useful and timely account of US strategy towards Latin America over the past half century, revealing its intrinsic weaknesses and the profound ignorance and prejudice of US policymakers. Grace Livingstone's book covers wide ground in an original and compelling narrative.

Richard Gott, author of Cuba: A New History.