Louis W Goodman is Professor and Emeritus Dean, School of International Service, American University.

• Preface -- Introduction -- Political Parties and the Political Systems of Central America -- The Role of Political Parties in National Political Systems -- Colonial Heritage, External Domination, and Political Systems in Central America -- The Transitions to "Electoral" and Democratic Politics in Central America: Assessing the Role of Political Parties -- Politicized Warriors: The Military and Central American Politics -- Constitutional Framework for Political Parties in Central America: From Exclusion to Participation -- Parties, Transitions, and the Political System in Guatemala -- Party Politics in Belize -- Parties, Programs, and Politics in E1 Salvador -- The Origin and Development of Political Parties in Honduras -- Nicaragua, 1944–84: Political Parties and Electoral Processes -- Political Parties and Postrevolutionary Politics in Nicaragua -- Political Parties, Party Systems, and Democracy in Costa Rica -- Panama: Political Parties, Social Crisis, and Democracy in the 1980s -- Political Parties and Their International Connections -- Projecting Democracy in Central America: Old Wine, New Bottles? -- Esquipulas: Politicians in Command -- The Soviet Union and Cuba in Central America: Guardians Against Democracy? -- The Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Movement in Central America -- The Official Party of Mexico and the Country’s Diplomacy in Central America -- Religion and Democratization in Central America -- The Party Internationals and Democracy in Central America -- Appendix: Political Parties and Elections in Central America