With accessible language and pointed commentary, Lessons from Latin America shows readers how innovative policies can be applied across the globe to improve lived experiences. -- Jeffrey Lesser, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of History, Emory University This is global sociology at its best, accessible and even lyrical. Talking across continents, Arocena and Bowman give substance to the idea that Latin America is home to some of the most innovative, socially conscious, and forward-looking institutions, belying so many sterile stereotypes. A magnificent celebration of the Latin American sociological imagination! -- Michael Burawoy, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley An uncommonly refreshing introduction to Latin American societies, focusing on the central issues of everyday life, but also explaining the ongoing blending of the hemisphere's cultures. -- Lars Schoultz, William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Since the early 1980s, Latin American countries have been innovative in a range of policy and cultural experiences, including health care, voting, pensions, and multiculturalism. And yet, their policy innovations are rarely found in textbooks. This book addresses that gap, providing a fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of both the history of "looking down" at Latin America and the political, economic, and cultural "lessons" (including successes, failures, and unintended consequences) that should inform important policy discussions around the world.