In the early 1980s, world attention was focused on Central America because of conflict and revolution. In 1990, the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua had been voted out of office and by the mid-1990s civil wars had ended everywhere except Guatemala, where peace negotiations had yet to be concluded. However, whilst elected civilian governments are in power throughout the region, the transition to a democratic order is by no means complete or assured.

This volume sets out to explore the nature of the transition which has occurred in Central America since 1990 and to assess current prospects for democratic restructuring. Chapters on party systems, the military and returning refugees examine transformations of key actors in the region's politics. Further contributions examine the dynamic between the executive and the legislature and current efforts to improve the rule of law.

The role of international factors has been particularly significant in the Central American transition and this dimension is explored in the final section of this book.