ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores relationships between substantive issues and analytical strategies. It concentrates mainly on political questions and political science, but this focus should be relevant to other disciplines as well. Comparative analysis of Latin America is most conspicuous by its scarcity. Social science on Latin America has evinced a cyclical tendency to embrace and discard grand theoretical schemes. Although there has been considerable tumult in the advancement and rejection of general theory, Latin American social science has made discernible progress in the formulation, application, and refinement of key analytical constructs. The book discusses that the role of women and the place of gender issues constitute a defining feature for political systems. It deals with the importance of social coalitions and of state-society relations. It also concentrates on the persisting and central role of the state.
