South America, Central America and the Caribbean 2012

Published annually, this 20th edition brings together a unique combination of the latest data on, and detailed analysis of, a vast region. Scrupulously revised and updated, this edition has been collated and compiled by Europa's experienced editorial team and also includes contributions from specialists on the region.

There is a vast amount of political and socio-economic information reflecting events of the last twelve months:

• a new essay on food security in Latin America, and another entitled 'Continuity and Change in Latin America in the New Decade'
• chapters on Curaçao, St Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St Eustatius, including the new island governments and legislatures in each of the territories, following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles
• analysis of elections in Guyana, Guatemala, Argentina, Nicaragua, St Lucia and the British Virgin Islands.

The book is divided into three sections:

Essays written by acknowledged experts on the area provide an impartial General Survey of the region. Subjects covered include: Autonomy in the Caribbean Overseas Territories; Continuity and Change in Latin America; The Politics of Energy in Latin America; Regional and International Trade Partnerships in the Caribbean; Drugs, Violence and Insecurity in Mexico; Food Security in Latin America.

Country Surveys

Individual chapters on each country, which comprise:

• an introductory survey, containing essays on the geography, recent history and economy of each country, including a map
• an extensive statistical survey of economic indicators, including area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, media and education
• a full directory section with names, addresses, contact numbers and email and internet addresses for the following areas: constitution, government, election commissions, political organizations, diplomatic representation, religious groupings, the judiciary, the media, finance, trade and industry, transport, tourism, defence and education
• a select bibliography.

Regional Information

Includes a directory of research institutes specializing in the region and bibliographies of books and periodicals covering Latin America and the Caribbean.

Countries covered in this edition

Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Aruba; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Bolivia; Bonaire; Brazil; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Cuba; Curaçao; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; Falkland Islands; French Guiana; Grenada; Guadeloupe; Guatemala; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Jamaica; Martinique; Mexico; Montserrat; Nicaragua; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Puerto Rico; Saba; Saint-Barthelemy; Saint Christopher and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint-Martin; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Sint Eustatius; Sint Maarten; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; United States Virgin Islands; Uruguay; Venezuela.