Colin M. Lewis is Senior Lecturer in Latin American Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is an expert on social conditions and policy and policy in Argentina and Latin America, and has published widely in these areas.

• Part 1: International ContextIntroduction: Defining a place in the worldOne: The regional dimensions of national consolidation.Two: Independent internationalism: a secure place in the global order?Three: Neutrality and nationalism: the cost of charting an independent course.Four: Reaction, realism and global reinsertion: ideology versus pragmatismConclusion: Internationalism and nationalismPart 2: Economy and SocietyIntroduction: Golden eras and missed opportunities - a long-run perspective.Five: Imperfect Transition: the flawed belle epoqueSix: Industrialisation and development: aspiration and obsessionSeven: Restructuring economny and society: the political economy of violence.Eight: Convertibility, poverty and corruption: a future found and lostConclusion: In search of efficiency and equity.Part 3: PoliticsIntroduction: Conflict and crisis - failure to embed a national project.Nine: A possible republic and the real republicTen: Class Politics: Parties, Power and Democracy.Eleven: Distributional Conflict: the politics of frustration.Conclusion: State, politics and citizenship.ConclusionBibliographical essayIndex