Discusses the history of the region, examines the Soviet influence, and analyzes American policies toward Central America.

"Published in cooperation with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace." Map on lining papers.

Overview: -- Can the cycle be broken? / Robert S. Leiken -- Legacies and Contexts: -- 1. "Obedezco pero no cumplo" ("I obey but I do not comply") / Christopher Dickey -- 2. The burdens of the past / Walter LaFeber -- 3. Praetorians or patriots: the Central American military / Richard Millett -- Socialism and Sovietism: -- 4. The origins of Sandinista foreign policy / Arturo Cruz Sequiera -- 5. The Salvadoran left / Robert S. Leiken -- 6. The Soviets and Central America / Morris Rothenberg -- Economic and Military Realities: -- 7. The cost of alternative U.S. policies toward El Salvador 1984-1989 / Theodore Moran -- 8. Military threats, actual and potential / Joseph Cirincione and Leslie Hunter -- 9. Far from hopeless: an economic program for post-war Central America -- 10. Feet people / Leonel Gomez -- The Policy Process: -- 11. Reagan's Central American policy: an isthmus restored / Viron Vaky -- 12. At the root of the problem: conceptual failures in U.S.-Central American relations / Howard J. Wiarda -- 13. At sea in Central America: Can we negotiate our way to shore? / Tom J. Farer -- 14. Reagan administration policymaking and Central America / Barry Rubin -- 15. The elusive consensus: Congress and Central America / I.M. Destler.