ABSTRACT
The degree of colonial influence in Latin America varied from place to place. The political institutions established by Spain and Portugal in Latin America reflected and reinforced the medieval system of the mother countries. The independence struggles in Latin America waxed and waned for nearly two decades before succeeding in the 1820s. Along with the politico-cultural, economic, and social transformations in Latin America have also come changes in political institutions. Along with Latin American political processes and institutions public policy programs are also modernizing. Economically, Latin America is now a part of the global economy, with mostly good consequences but with some negative consequences. Although Latin American development at this time was often impressive, it occurred under nondemocratic leadership: oligarchs, order-and-progress dictators, and US military occupations.
