* An unrivalled survey on the countries and territories of this immense region
* Includes contributions from acknowledged authorities who examine topics of regional importance.
General Survey
Thoroughly revised and updated analytical articles written by acknowledged experts covering issues of regional importance are examined by acknowledged authorities of the area, subjects covered include: Religion in Twenty-First Century Latin America; Indigenous Peoples in Latin America in the Twenty-First Century; The Geopolitics of Relations in North America: A Mexican Perspective; El Niño: A Latin American Phenomenon? ; Combating Money-Laundering and Terrorist Financing in the Caribbean; Debt, Finance and the IMF; The Andean Regional Initiative; and Central America and 'El Norte': an Introduction to Latin American Politics.
Country Surveys
Individual chapters on each country and territory incorporating:
* An introductory survey, containing essays on the history and economy of each country, as well as physical and social geographies of each country, including maps
* An extensive economic and demographic survey of the latest available statistics on area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, communications media and education
* A full directory section with names, addresses, contact numbers and e-mail and internet addresses covering the constitution, government, legislature, judiciary, political organizations, diplomatic representation, religious groups, the media, finance, trade and industry, tourism, defence and education
* A select bibliography, containing suggestions for further research.
Regional Information

• Includes full details of all major international organizations active in the region; a detailed survey of major commodities in Latin America; a directory of research institutes specializing in the region; select bibliographies of books and periodicals and an index of regional organizations.