This provocative volume emphasizes the necessity of coming to grips with historic and contemporary corporatism in order to fully comprehend Latin American and Iberian development on its own terms and in its own sociopolitical context. Professor Wiarda fully explores corporatismits theory and practice and the vast gap between the two, its ideology and historical roots, and its sociology and political economy. Providing background materials, comparative and empirical data, and case studies, he uncovers new areas of research for historians, social scientists, and area specialists. Although the focus of this potentially controversial